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	EVENT/VENUE RECYCLING CASE STUDY:
	CAPITAL AREA SOCCER LEAGUE COMPLEX, RALEIGH

Recycling Since:	2008
Type of Facility:	Soccer complex featuring a 3,200 seat, lighted soccer-specific stadium as well as 25 pitches/fields
Total Number of Facility Users:	800 teams, including more than 20,000 individual users
Recycles:	primarily water bottles and beverage containers
Average Cost of Service:	$370 per month plus a 13-20 percent fuel surcharge

Description
The Capital Area Soccer League, with the financial support of the Wake County Solid Waste Reduction Grant Committee, successfully began a recycling program at the WRAL Soccer Complex in Raleigh, N.C. Before June 2008, there was no recycling in place at the complex. In accordance with the grant, CASL purchased 125 Clear Stream containers (with bags) and ground anchors at a total cost of $7,300. For the most part, there is a container for every trash can and the grounds staff empties the containers when full. The bags have recycle arrows indicating their purpose and have “cans and bottles here” printed on them. The containers have held up well since their purchase, with wind being the only deterrent since the bags are thin and the container itself is light.

Implementation
CASL selected a waste-removal service based on the ability to commingle plastic with other materials and whether or not additional fees would be charged. Four days prior to the start of a regional tournament held at the complex (that included 184 youth soccer teams from 11 states), two eight-cubic yard dumpsters were delivered. The monthly recycling cost for the two dumpsters is $370 a month (plus a fuel surcharge).
During the tournament, both recycling dumpsters had to be emptied twice in a span of less than a week. Conversely, the normal waste dumpsters, which ordinarily would need to be emptied at least once during the week, did not need to be emptied throughout the entire tournament.

Results
The majority of recyclables generated at the complex are plastic water bottles and aluminum cans. CASL found that the accessibility of the recycling containers meant that the amount of trash left on the fields was reduced considerably. CASL estimates that the recycling program will reduce the volume of normal trash collected by a minimum of 50 percent and more likely by 70-80 percent. CASL also hopes its recycling program will encourage its members to become more conscious of every individual’s responsibility to be a good steward of the environment.

Interviewed:	Ben Woltz, WRAL Soccer Complex Facilities Manager
Location:	770 Perry Creek Rd., Raleigh, N.C.
Phone:	(919) 790-0785
Web:	www.caslnc.com

For a copy of this case study, click here.

April 2009

North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance

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