Each year, the Principal Charity Classic (PCC) - an award-winning, highly-anticipated PGA Tour Champions event - impacts the lives of more than 130,000 youth in philanthropic areas including education, culture, financial security, stability, health and wellness. Additionally, PCC is committed to integrating sustainability into every aspect of the tournament. As one of the marquee events in Des Moines, it serves as a marketplace to promote sustainability and impact positive social and environmental outcomes for the community, Iowa and beyond.
In an effort to enhance PCC’s sustainability mission, Chris Burch, Director of Operations for PCC, reached out to Shelly Codner, Area 2 Resource Specialist for the Iowa Waste Exchange in November 2023 and brainstorming and strategizing sessions commenced.
"The guidance that the Principal Charity Classic received from the Iowa Waste Exchange as the sustainability goals were established for the 2024 tournament was invaluable. Input from the partnership helped to set policy, update our procedures, and ensure that the right people were involved to accomplish our objectives," Burch stated.
Following those strategizing sessions, Burch assembled PCC’s Ecology team who were tasked with onsite waste reduction and recycling, the team consisted of the Iowa Waste Exchange, Waste Solutions of Iowa, Masterpiece Services and Schupan Recycling under the direction of Burch and Riley Bahr of Blue Strike Environmental.
Each member of the team was charged with specific tasks. The Iowa Waste Exchange was charged with ensuring that recycling streams were clean with minimal contamination and diverting as much material from the waste stream as possible. This was facilitated through daily on-site waste sorts. It was determined that since recyclables would be sorted anyway that redeemable cans and bottles should be source separated from the waste stream as an additional way to raise funds. Source-separated redeemable cans and bottles were delivered and processed at Metro Waste Authority’s Redemption Facility in Bondurant, recyclables were delivered and processed at Schupan’s recycling facility in Des Moines. Additionally, Codner found homes for various materials prior to, during and following the tournament.
"We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with the Iowa Waste Exchange (IWE) at the Principal Charity Classic. Their dedicated efforts in sustainability have made a significant impact on our tournament. IWE assisted with diverting hard-to-recycle materials like sunscreen, first aid kits, chapstick, hangers, and kitchen items, which helped reduce landfill waste while benefiting the community. Notably, IWE repurposed 500 pounds of mesh materials as weed barriers for the Federated Garden Club of Iowa. Additionally, their sorting team worked tirelessly to separate recyclables and redeemable cans and bottles, recycling 15,884 cans and 2,347 bottles, which were sent to the Metro Waste Authority's redemption center. The proceeds from this initiative were donated to Trees Forever, supporting local reforestation and conservation efforts. Thanks to IWE's invaluable partnership, we made a significant leap from a 13.9% waste diversion rate in 2023 to an impressive 23.7% in 2024. Together, we've made strides in sustainability, and we look forward to continuing this valuable partnership with IWE,” stated Bahr.
Preliminary planning, which includes enhancing waste reduction and recycling efforts has begun for next year’s PCC, which will be held at Wakonda Club in Des Moines May 28 – June 1, 2025.
“It was truly my honor and privilege to have been asked to assist with this premier event,” stated Codner. “I am especially grateful for each member of the ecology team, who operated as one unit come tournament time. While we were each tasked with our separate roles, team members jumped in where needed to fulfill the overall sustainability mission of PCC. The event aligned directly with my two greatest passions, protecting our planet and empowering the children that inhabit it.”
This year, PCC was attended by over 50,000 and raised a record breaking $8.6 million for Iowa’s youth.
For additional information regarding the Iowa Waste Exchange visit www.iowawasteexchange.org.
For additional information regarding the Principal Charity Classic visit https://principalcharityclassic.com/.