Zero Waste initiative kicks off at Nov. 14 football game
Fans in attendance will have the option to place their waste in either a brown compost bin or a green recycling bin at Zero Waste stations positioned throughout Brooks Stadium. The bins will be clearly labeled, and Eco-Rep student volunteers will be on hand to clarify and help educate fans on the process. Stadium cleanup after the game will involve a variety of volunteers led by another student group called the Green Team to further separate compostables from recyclables.
Compostable items will include all food waste, liquids, plates and napkins. Recyclable items will include plastic bottles and cups, metal cans and foil, and gameday programs, which are transported to the Horry County Solid Waste Authority for processing.
With approximately 9,000 attendees, Brooks Stadium produces an average of 3,600 pounds of waste during just one game, or approximately 1.8 tons. Currently, CCU recycles about 45 percent of its waste at each home football game, but with the opportunity to add food waste composting in partnership with SMART Recycling, the University's sustainability initiative hopes to increase this diversion rate.
CCU defines zero waste as the diversion of 90 percent or more of waste into recycling and composting efforts. Working with Chanticleer Athletics and Aramark Dining Services, the TD Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative has already taken strides that will help smooth its transition to zero waste.
The adoption of the zero waste football game is the second phase of the campuswide transition to future zero waste event opportunities. In partnership with SMART Recycling of Charleston, S.C., CCU has implemented food waste composting at two of its dining facilities, Hicks Dining Hall and Chauncey's Choice.
"Food waste takes up a significant portion of the space in the landfill," said Jennifer Sellers, CCU sustainability coordinator. "With the opportunity to divert food waste through composting efforts, we are hoping to be a model for the community in our zero waste efforts."
For more information, visit coastal.edu/sustain and use hashtag #ZeroWasteCCU.