Zero Waste Stadium initiative continues to succeed 

Zero waste is an ambitious goal that Charlotte’s Office of Sustainability is achieving through the Zero Waste Stadium initiative with help from volunteers, including students from the Honors College.

Zero Waste is based on diverting as much waste as possible from going to the landfill, and promotes source reduction, reuse, recycling and compost as alternatives to landfilling waste. Charlotte’s Zero Waste Stadium initiative, coordinated by facilities management, business services (and contractor Chartwells) and athletics, covers all home football games, plus the day after sorting events.

At these games, cups, tubs, bottles and cans are collected for recycling, while all food waste and paper packaging goes to a compost facility. Volunteers and paid staff work together the day after the game to sort items collected. Every bag is opened, inspected and sorted into “waste streams” including several categories of recycling (cardboard, paper, bottles, cans and several plastics), compost and trash. Sorted materials are carted to dumpsters for delivery to local companies.

“Through our efforts, we are building appreciation for both the professional staff who clean the campus and for the valuable materials we can cycle into our local economy,” said Mike Lizotte, university sustainability officer. “Carrying and sorting a stadium load of waste lets students see what it takes to handle waste responsibly.”

To some, the efforts of sorting through tons of stadium waste may sound extreme. However, post-event sorting is routine for large event venues and is recommended in the waste management playbooks of the Green Sports Alliance.

Charlotte’s extra efforts ensure that composting or recycling companies receive clean shipments of these valuable materials from Charlotte. A shipment with too much trash could be rejected and end up lost to a landfill, echoed by a loss of jobs and materials for the North Carolina economy.

Janiaya Cobbs, a sophomore computer engineering honors student, volunteers with the zero waste crew sorting trash from recyclable materials, such as plastic bottles and aluminum cans, and makes sure waste is put in the appropriate bags.
While it might not be the most desirable volunteer role, Cobbs realizes the impact the initiative has on the community and environment.

“It is important for students to help with projects such as this one because it helps them gain perspective and lets them see what goes on behind the curtains for things they take for granted,” said Cobbs. “My efforts allow for a cleaner and healthier community, which is something I’m proud of.”

For Batman Whiteside, a senior mathematics and computer science honors student, the zero waste crew gave him an opportunity to come together with friends to work on a worthy cause.

“To have students from the Honors College participate in initiatives such as the zero waste stadium initiative is key to enabling their determination and fostering servant-leadership,” said Whiteside.

efforts make a differece: Stats from the 2023 football season

For the 2023 football season, University staff and 12 student workers from the Office of Sustainability worked 625 hours. Another 286 hours of volunteer time came from the Honors College and student organizations. The initiative recycled or composted an average of 83% of waste.

• 85% diversion at game vs. S.C. State (9/2/23)
• 83% diversion at game vs. Georgia State (9/16/23)
• 79% diversion at game vs. Navy (10/14/23)
• 75% diversion at game vs. Florida Atlantic University (10/27/24)
• 86% diversion at game vs. Memphis (11/11/23)
• 88% diversion at game vs. Rice (11/18/23)

How the Zero Waste Stadium initiative started

As Jerry Richardson Stadium was being built, the Student Government Association passed a resolution to make the stadium zero waste, and it has operated that way since the first game in 2013. Since opening, only two games have been under 50% diversion rate, and more than half of home games have diverted 70% or more of the waste.

The Office of Sustainability updated the Zero Waste Stadium in 2022 with help from a grant provided by the Charlotte Green Initiative, the student green fund. The student-supported fund provided $25,000 to purchase new bins, improving waste sorting by fans inside the stadium. The Office of Sustainability hired student workers to replace contractors who initially collected the waste from the bins, and the student employees now help fans puzzled by the lack of trash containers in the stadium. Lastly, the day-after sorting event became a community service project for students.

want to get involved?

The zero waste crew is always looking for volunteers to support its efforts. There are two more opportunities to help for the 2024 football season: Friday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to noon, and Sunday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will receive a free Zero-Waste T-shirt, gloves and refreshments and should plan to wear weather-appropriate clothes that can get dirty and closed-toed shoes. Don’t forget to bring a reusable water bottle!

Please contact the Office of Sustainability to learn more about volunteering or visit the website for additional information.