Since 2003, Carter-Finley has been recycling-friendly with a recycling bin beside every trash can as Waste Industries hopes fans will place their recyclable waste in them.
Analis Fulghum, the education and outreach coordinator of Waste Reduction and Recycling, said the recycling program began with Chuck It Recycling.
“Paul Mobley thought up and jump-started the Chuck It Recycling program as a Caldwell Fellows stipend proposal because he saw a need for recycling collection at N.C. State football tailgating,” she said. “The program was made possible through collaboration between N.C. State Waste Reduction and Recycling, Waste Industries and N.C. State Athletics.”
The program does not apply to Reynolds Coliseum or the RBC Center; the arenas have recycling bins, but recycling is not as widely promoted as it is at the football stadium.
“At the beginning of each season Waste Reduction and Recycling places a recycling bin next to every trash bin. It can be difficult to conform to this process at every game as bins do get moved around by tailgaters at each event,” Fulghum said. “We also place bins at the entrances near Carter-Finley so tailgaters who have recyclables can deposit their containers on the way into the game.”
Ryan Thomann, a sophomore in chemistry, said he found lots of recycling bins in Carter-Finley.
“It was like someone threw up recycling bins and a trash can or two,” he said. “Trashcans are harder to find than recycling bins these days — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
Fulghum said new programs have been delayed because of insufficient funds.
“The past year’s budget has left campus departments in the position to cut services and delay new programs,” she said. “Our office works with athletics to try and serve the needs of those visiting sporting venues on campus. Recycling at athletic events involves many campus departments, outside contractors and sponsorships which are considered when adding services to events. We have expanded recycling onto the baseball fields, the new golf course and in the Murphy Center.”
Fulghum said although the programs have stagnated recently due to budget cuts, they have developed a lot in the past six years.
“The stadium recycling program has come a long way since 2003 and over 200,000 pounds has been recycled,” she said. “The program has proven cost effective to manage, so expansion to other athletic events will be incorporated as funding opportunities become available. The important thing to know here is that the WE Recycle program is looking to expand to other venues. In fact, we have provided bins to the baseball fields and golf course but this program can only expand as resources to support it become available.”
