After just two Saturdays of Wolfpack football, more than 70 bags of food waste and compostable materials have been collected at Carter-Finley Stadium during NC State home football games.
A partnership between NC State Athletics and NC Stateās Waste Reduction and Recycling Office, the composting program relies on student volunteers who assist fans in identifying recyclable and compostable material that is sorted into compost, recycling or landfill bins on the concourse. Students from the NC State Stewards, EcoVillage and the Wood Wellness Village were the first groups to assist with this new program.
Compost collected at the games is combined with otherĀ campus food-related waste, includingĀ pizza boxesĀ from residence halls and food waste from dining facilities, and transported to NC State alumna-ownedĀ Brooks Contractor, where itās processed and sold as soil amendment for landscaping. Compost is only available on the stadium concourse, meaning any items left in the stands are not composted.
Student groups interested in volunteering for this program can contact the Waste Reduction and Recycling Office by emailingĀ wrrstudent1@ncsu.edu. Groups must commit 18-20 volunteers for the entire game to help fans sort their waste, and registered on-campus groups and organizations will have an opportunity to earn a stipend of up to $250 for volunteering.
In addition to composting, the Wolfpack has recycled 11.24 tons both inside and outside the stadium during the first two home football games. Recycling bins are available throughout tailgate lots, outside the stadium gates and inside the stadium. Fans can also recycle through WE Recycle, a program that utilizes volunteers to distribute recycling bags in the tailgate lots before the game. Fans can fill the bag, tie it closed and leave it on the ground for pickup. Recycling bags can also be obtained from 12 bag stations located throughout the tailgating lots (see map).
WE Recycle volunteers receive a t-shirt, ticket to the football game and parking pass. Visit go.ncsu.edu/werecycle for more information and to sign up as a volunteer.
Sponsored by Waste Industries since 2003, WE Recycle is a collaboration of Waste Industries, NC State Athletics, NC Stateās Waste Reduction and Recycling Office and Coca-Cola.