At this Saturday’s NC State football game, the Wolfpack will take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in more than just an athletic showdown. The Oct. 5 game is part of the university’s zero-waste initiative, aimed at drastically reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.
"Big events like this create a lot of waste," said Meredith Smith with NC State’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Office. "We’re here to take small steps toward a more sustainable game, and we’re making improvements along the way to increase efficiency."
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NC State has partnered with its athletics department, Wolfpack Sports Properties, and waste management companies like Green for Life to place 22 zero-waste stations around Carter-Finley Stadium.
At these stations, fans will find three bins: one for compost, one for recycling, and one for landfill items. Volunteers—many of them NC State students—will be on hand to help fans properly sort their waste.
"Our goal is to divert as much waste from landfills as possible," Smith said. "We have commercial-grade composting facilities on campus, so we’re able to turn food scraps, compostable packaging, and other materials into nutrient-rich soil. That soil is then used in landscaping and even helps grow produce on campus farms that is served in our dining halls."
The waste impact of big events
NC State’s zero-waste game is part of a broader effort to address the massive waste generated by big events like football games. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average college football game produces between 50 and 100 tons of waste; with more than 50,000 fans attending Saturday’s game, NC State expects to collect thousands of pounds of trash, recyclables, and compostable materials.
"At these events, the average fan creates about one to two pounds of waste," said Dr. Bryan Staley, president and CEO of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation, a Raleigh-based nonprofit focused on sustainable waste management. "If you have a stadium full of 50,000 people, that's 50,000 to 100,000 pounds of waste from just one event."
Much of that waste comes from single-use items—plastic cups, food packaging, and utensils—which often end up in landfills. Single-use items are convenient but pose a significant environmental challenge. At large gatherings like football games, it’s easy for fans to toss everything into the nearest bin without a second thought.
"Single-use plastics are still a big problem," Staley said. "But with the right infrastructure, like composting and recycling stations, we can reduce that environmental burden."
Tackling the problem with compostable materials
NC State has made a conscious effort to reduce single-use plastics by switching to compostable packaging for much of the food and drink sold on game day. Items like popcorn boxes and napkins are compostable, and food scraps will be collected as well. Smith noted that Aramark, the university’s dining and concessions partner, has been crucial in implementing these changes.
“Aramark has been using compostable packaging, which makes it easier for fans to dispose of waste correctly,” Smith said.
Volunteers at zero-waste stations will play a key role in helping fans learn which items can be recycled or composted and which should go to the landfill. One of those volunteers is Emily Nobley, a sophomore and zero-waste intern at NC State.
"I think it's super fulfilling to help with such a good mission—reducing the amount of waste NC State creates," Nobley said. "It feels amazing to see the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds of compost and plastic film that we're able to divert from the landfill."
Building for the future
NC State’s zero-waste game is one step in the university’s broader sustainability efforts. While the current focus is on football games, Smith hopes to expand the initiative to other athletic events. The university is also working to improve infrastructure, increase the number of zero-waste stations, and get more fans involved.
Staley believes the impact of the zero-waste initiative goes beyond the stadium.
"The change we see on college campuses can trickle into broader society," Staley said. "The students involved in these initiatives are the next generation of professionals who will make decisions about sustainability in their careers. This is how we start building a more circular economy, where waste is reduced, reused, and recycled."
As fans head to Carter-Finley Stadium this weekend, they’ll have the chance to contribute to a more sustainable future.