EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Think of the Super Bowl and you think of excess: Big money, big parties, big crowds and an even bigger mess left behind when the circus leaves town. Well, at least the messy part is getting smaller. Beginning in the 1990s, the National Football League has sought to gradually reduce the footprint left behind by the Big Game, and the league is taking steps to make the Feb. 2 Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium the most environmentally friendly yet, from planting trees to offset carbon emissions to composting food waste to using biodiesel to power generators. "We try and stay ahead of the curve," said Jack Groh, a consultant who directs the NFLs environmental programs. "We try and push the envelope every year." Most of the attention focused on this years Super Bowl is, understandably, on the challenges of holding it outdoors in the Northeast for the first time. Another, less-celebrated first: MetLife Stadium will compost food waste on game day, the first time thats happened at a Super Bowl. Its not new for the stadium. Dave Duernberger, MetLife Stadiums vice-president of facilities, said the stadium produced 195 tons of food waste for composting last year, up from 153 tons the year before. Duernberger expects about seven or eight tons to be generated during the Super Bowl, which will go into a giant compactor and then be trucked to a local facility for processing. The end product can be used for landscaping. Another innovation is the use of biodiesel fuel processed from waste cooking oil. According to Groh, a biodiesel mix will be used in generators that will power Super Bowl Boulevard, the 13-block party on Broadway that will feature entertainment and a giant toboggan slide, as well as generators that are augmenting the power supply on the MetLife Stadium grounds. The head of Public Service Electric & Gas, the utility that provides power to the complex, has estimated that it will take about 18 megawatts of electricity to power the entire complex for the game, or what would be needed to power 12,000 homes. Of that, PSE&G president Ralph LaRossa said as much as six megawatts could be provided by the generators. Greening the Super Bowl has been a passion project for Groh, who started out as a journalist before forming an environmental communications firm with his wife. He did his first work for the NFL at the 1994 Super Bowl in Atlanta, at a time when the simple recycling of plastic bottles and cans at stadiums was a significant step forward. He continuously seeks out new ways to wring as much value out of things that normally would be discarded. For example, in the weeks leading up to this years Super Bowl, the NFL sponsored e-waste recycling events in New York and New Jersey that collected 9,000 pounds of old phones, computers and other gadgets, according to Verizon, which partnered in the program. Tens of thousands of trees have been planted in the metropolitan area to offset carbon emissions created by the game, Groh said. After the game, the league will donate several miles of fabric signage to nonprofits or other groups for repurposing. In New Orleans, Groh said, local designers took the fabric and used it to make purses, dresses, shower curtains, beanbag chairs, tote bags and wallets. "Our primary objective is to see that it doesnt go to a landfill," he said. The efforts have drawn a thumbs-up from the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club, whose president, Jeff Tittel, called the programs "good for the environment and good for the NFLs image." "The NFL is doing a better job reducing greenhouse gases and offsetting carbon than the state of New Jersey is," said Tittel, a consistent critic of Gov. Chris Christies environmental policies. "Thats the irony, they understand climate change better than our governor does." Discount Jordan Shoes Wholesale .Before a raucous sellout crowd, the Hawks won for the 29th time in 31 games to extend their Eastern-best record to 36-8.As usual, pretty much everyone chipped in.Four starters were in double figures and backup point guard Dennis Schroder led a spurt at the start of the fourth quarter that helped the Hawks pull away. Nike Air Jordan Uk Sale . Having won the first leg 1-0 in Barcelona, Madrid entered the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium already in control and quickly sealed its place in the semifinals when Jese Rodriguez scored in the seventh minute. http://www.ukairjordan.com/. Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed on Sunday that his starting goalie has a head injury and the team will take it day by day. Jordan Retro Shoes Uk . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. Air Jordan Wholesale Uk . So much so that even a simple foul pop up to the first baseman turned into a run. Houstons four-run rally in the ninth inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Monday night was capped by a bizarre play that started as Crowe fouled out to first baseman Justin Smoak with runners on second and third.Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Marlins roster looks a little different after the club made a flurry of transactions on Monday. The promotion of top prospect Andrew Heaney from Triple-A New Orleans was the most notable move. The ninth overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, Heaney was 3-0 with a 2.74 ERA in four starts for New Orleans. The 23-year-old lefty began the season at Double-A Jacksonville, going 4-2 with a 2.35 ERA. Outfielder Christian Yelich also was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain, while pitchers Randy Wolf and Kevin Slowey were both designated for assignment. Additionallly, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was transferred from the seven-day concussion list to the 15-day DL and infielder Donovan Solano was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.dddddddddddd The Marlins have also recalled pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, infielder Justin Bour and outfielder Jake Marisnick from New Orleans. Yelich, 22, is batting .259 with six home runs and 24 RBI over 63 games this season. The 37-year-old Wolf joined the Marlins last month and went 1-3 with a 5.26 earned run average in four starts and two relief appearances. Slowey, 30, was 1-1 with a 5.30 ERA in two starts and 15 trips out of the bullpen. ' ' '