Duke Athletics Zero Waste to Landfill Initiative

Abstract

Landfills are a growing threat to public health, releasing emissions to air, soil, and water. With space and resource constraints, recycling and composting are becoming increasingly economically attractive. Duke, as a leading academic institution, has the opportunity to become a leader in waste reduction. Piloting a zero waste to landfill initiative at Cameron Indoor Stadium will bring the Duke community together to reduce waste while garnering public attention. A zero waste program, in which 90% of waste is diverted from the landfill, can be achieved through upstream, downstream, and courtside changes. Through consumer behavior observations, technology evaluation, and empirical data for waste segregation, we have recommended educational, operational, and product packaging changes to achieve Zero Waste at Cameron Indoor Stadium. These recommendations focus on the addition of composting capacity at Duke, educational initiatives for game attendees and staff, the sourcing of products with easily recyclable or compostable packaging, and negotiations with local recycling facilities to increase acceptance of a variety of materials. This long-term project has the opportunity to expand throughout Duke University and to peer institutions to make the greatest impact.