Organizers of the Principal Charity Classic say the golf tournament is moving closer to its goal of being a carbon-neutral event by 2035. According to a news release, the classic reached a 23.7% waste diversion rate for this year’s tournament on May 24, up from 13.9% in 2023. The release says organizers want to hit a 40% diversion rate in 2025. According to Environmental Protection Agency online references, waste diversion is a strategy to reduce disposal costs and keep waste out of landfills through recycling, composting and other means. The Classic, a PGA Tour Champions event, works with Iowa Waste Exchange, Metro Waste Authority, SEI Investments Co. and St. Vincent de Paul to recycle, repurpose and compost materials, the release says. According to the release, the Classic also worked with MidAmerican Energy to source 88.5% of the energy for the event at the Wakonda Club from clean sources and retired renewable energy certificates to further offset the tournament’s carbon footprint. “At the Principal Charity Classic, we are dedicated to raising funds to support Iowa youths while also leading the charge in sustainability,” Alex McCarty, Principal Charity Classic tournament director, said in a prepared statement. “With the ongoing support of Principal and our new and legacy partners, we are setting the standard for environmentally responsible event management.”