Case studies of the experiences of others are a great resource for generating ideas for what might work for you, dealing with challenges, and demonstrating that waste diversion programs can be successful.
Airports
- New Terminal/Concourse Recycling Program*
In April 2007, the Sacramento International Airport initiated a program to collect newspapers, magazines, white and colored paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, glass, and plastic bottles. - Partnership to reduce concession/tenant waste at Seattle-Tacoma International AirportPDF download. Presentation from the 2011 Airports Going Green Conference.
- “Flying High with Food Diversion.” An August 2015 article from BioCycle magazine exploring San Diego International Airport’s Food Diversion Program.
*If you require special accommodation to access this document pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at (916) 341-6300 or opa@calrecycle.ca.gov.
Conventions/Conferences
- 2004 Democratic National Convention. Convention organizers saved $9,358 through planned deconstruction and recyclingPDF download of event stages and booth materials.
- Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. The managers of this event have written detailed case studies on how they significantly reduced solid waste generation at their conferences.
- Moscone Center, San Francisco, California (1996-2001). One of the busiest convention centers in the country cut their waste disposal tonnage in half. Winner of the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award.
Fairs
- Del Mar Fairgrounds (2005). The 375-acre facility in San Diego County, California hosts more than 3 million visitors annually to a year-round schedule of activities including a county fair, theme shows, and a horse racing season.
Festivals
- Monterey County
- Greening the Monterey Jazz Festival: Web page of the Monterey Jazz Festival highlighting its sustainability efforts.
- Greening the California Roots Festival: Web page of the California Roots Festival highlighting its sustainability efforts.
- “Music Festivals Keep Beat with Composting.” A September 2014 article from BioCycle magazine exploring the Bonnaroo Music & Arts festival composting program.
- Indio International Tamale Festival. This waste neutral diverted waste from landfills, decreased the generation of greenhouse gases, and increased its environmental sustainability through recycling and composting.
- San Francisco Bay to Breakers Footrace and Festival (1999). More than 75,000 participants run a 12k course through the city streets and end at postrace festival held in a municipal stadium.
Stadiums
- Food Scrap Management at Stadiums and Special Events. Model programs, tools, guidelines and other resources for collecting food scraps for compost at stadiums, fairs, festivals, and catered events.
- Indian Wells Tennis Center. A six-minute video showing the process for collecting kitchen waste generated at a major tennis tournament for use as compost.
- Game Changer: How the Sports Industry Is Saving the Environment. This report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) provides a collection of never-before-assembled case studies of the sports industry’s most prominent and successful greening initiatives from across North America.
- San Francisco GiantsPDF download. This baseball team saved more than $100,000 on their garbage disposal in 2004 by implementing a recycling and composting program at AT&T Park. AT&T Park and the Giants are committed to keeping waste out of the landfill with an aggressive annual goal of 90 percent diversion. In 2009, they diverted 57 percent and by 2013, diversion was over 86 percent. They work closely with their waste hauler, concessionaires and other partners to reach these goals. AT&T Park has a Recycle Processing Center and nearly all drinkware and food packaging is compostable/recyclable.
- STAPLES Center in Los AngelesPDF download. The home of the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, and Los Angeles Sparks has a variety of green initiatives in addition to a robust back-of-the-house recycling program.
- “Winning With Zero Waste.” A June 2014 article from BioCycle magazine exploring zero waste programs at sports venues. Features case studies from the San Francisco Giants, U.S. Open Tennis Championships, Vancouver Canucks, and Penn State University.
- University of California, Davis: Zero Waste Aggie StadiumPDF download. Achieved waste diversion of 90 percent or more through recycling and composting in both 2012 and 2014 in the GameDay Recycling Challenge.
Miscellaneous
- Reuben H. Fleet Science Center at Balboa Park. Staff at this year round Science Center have taken many initiatives to implement recycling at the facility. Other environmentally friendly steps have also been taken to reduce water and energy consumption.
- Work of Art, Event Planning and Catering Waste Reduction Program (2000). This innovative caterer has successfully implemented a “zero-waste events” program while maintaining the highest standards for food and service quality in a very competitive mark.
For more information contact: Office of Public Affairs, opa@calrecycle.ca.gov