RALEIGH, N.C. - When Derek Liles found out that he was going to receive a Green Brick Award, he thought one of his coworkers was playing a joke on him. For the 20-veteran of the NC State Athletics Facilities staff, overseeing sustainability at Carter-Finley Stadium isn't an achievement, it's just a part of his job.
Given to recognize an NC State staff member's outstanding achievement in sustainability, the NC State Sustainability Council has given out Green Brick Awards since 2004 – just one year after Carter-Finley began its tailgate recycling program, WE Recycle.
Liles, whose responsibilities include taking care of the practice fields, Close-King Indoor Practice Facility, the Carter-Finley Field and the parking lots, has been an integral part of the Wolfpack's recycling efforts since their beginning.
"Back when Coach Chuck Amato was here, we had the 'Chuck-It' recycling program," Liles remembers. "Students asked if we could recycle at Carter-Finley and it just built from there. We were doing it before it was the 'in' thing to do."
That program became WE Recycle which encourages zero waste practices for Wolfpack fans at Carter-Finley Stadium. Since 2003, over 729,464 lbs. of cans, bottles, and mixed recycling have been collected from the stadium and the surrounding tailgating lots.
The program expanded in 2015 to include every home football game and in 2016 to also include compost collections from Vaughn Towers and the stadium seats post-game.
For the Wolfpack seven home games last season, total compost collected and diverted from the landfill from all of those areas weighed in at an estimated 8,920 lbs.
Liles oversees the operational side of the sustainability efforts at the stadium. "The staff with Waste Reduction & Recycling on campus are the brains behind it," Liles continues. "I just make it happen by getting the contractors on board and educated, and making sure that the dumpsters are placed correctly and hauled away.
Liles has also had to ensure that the sustainability efforts all fall within the budget. "If your cleaning contractor can come through and just scoop everything up into one bag, they can finish much more quickly. When you're separating everything into three different bags, there's a cost aspect to it, so we had to work that into the contracts. We had some growing pains, but we've worked through it."
We Recycle is a joint venture between NC State Athletics, the university's Waste Reduction & Recycling staff and Waste Industries, while the Carter-Finley Composts program is run by athletics and WRR.
Because of the two initiatives, three all-time records for single-game diversion rates (the amount of waste diverted from landfills by recycling or composting) of 39%, 37%, and 32% in 2016. Trash from the tailgating lots and the stadium also decreased by 29,000lbs last season.
"None of this would be possible without the support, leadership, and collaborative approach of Derek Liles," said Lani St. Hill, Outreach Coordinator for Waste Reduction and Recycling. "His staunch support of striving for zero waste has really created a trickle-down support to all those that work at the stadium. Derek is helping to create a culture of sustainability- not just within the stadium staff, but also for our University and our community. With his guidance and leadership, 'Zero Waste Wolfpack' is no longer an aspiration, but an attainable goal."
"I'm definitely proud of those numbers," says Liles. "I think we can continue to improve on them as we educate our contractors and fans more. I really feel like I'm getting an award for just doing my job."
Liles' Green Brick Award signifies that it's a job well done.
Sustainability Efforts at Carter-Finley Stadium
WE Recycle - Partnership between NC State Athletics, Waste Reduction & Recycling, Waste Industries
Carter-Finley Composts - Partnership between NC State Athletics and Waste Reduction & Recycling
By the Numbers:
- In 2016, 605 compost bags collected.
- Total compost pulled from Carter-Finley stadium in 2016 was an estimated 8,920 lbs (stadium, concourse, Vaughn Towers).
- Since 2003, 63,280 lbs. recycling collected (31.64 tons)
- 2016 NC State University National Rankings:
• 13th, Total Recycling (improved 1 spot from 2015)
• 32nd, Diversion Rate (improved 11 spots from 2015)
Get Involved
WE Recycle and Carter-Finley Composts relies on student and community volunteers to promote recycling and composting. In 2016, 270 volunteers participated in the program, logging over 880 hours of service. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Given to recognize an NC State staff member's outstanding achievement in sustainability, the NC State Sustainability Council has given out Green Brick Awards since 2004 – just one year after Carter-Finley began its tailgate recycling program, WE Recycle.
Liles, whose responsibilities include taking care of the practice fields, Close-King Indoor Practice Facility, the Carter-Finley Field and the parking lots, has been an integral part of the Wolfpack's recycling efforts since their beginning.
"Back when Coach Chuck Amato was here, we had the 'Chuck-It' recycling program," Liles remembers. "Students asked if we could recycle at Carter-Finley and it just built from there. We were doing it before it was the 'in' thing to do."
That program became WE Recycle which encourages zero waste practices for Wolfpack fans at Carter-Finley Stadium. Since 2003, over 729,464 lbs. of cans, bottles, and mixed recycling have been collected from the stadium and the surrounding tailgating lots.
The program expanded in 2015 to include every home football game and in 2016 to also include compost collections from Vaughn Towers and the stadium seats post-game.
For the Wolfpack seven home games last season, total compost collected and diverted from the landfill from all of those areas weighed in at an estimated 8,920 lbs.
Liles oversees the operational side of the sustainability efforts at the stadium. "The staff with Waste Reduction & Recycling on campus are the brains behind it," Liles continues. "I just make it happen by getting the contractors on board and educated, and making sure that the dumpsters are placed correctly and hauled away.
Liles has also had to ensure that the sustainability efforts all fall within the budget. "If your cleaning contractor can come through and just scoop everything up into one bag, they can finish much more quickly. When you're separating everything into three different bags, there's a cost aspect to it, so we had to work that into the contracts. We had some growing pains, but we've worked through it."
We Recycle is a joint venture between NC State Athletics, the university's Waste Reduction & Recycling staff and Waste Industries, while the Carter-Finley Composts program is run by athletics and WRR.
Because of the two initiatives, three all-time records for single-game diversion rates (the amount of waste diverted from landfills by recycling or composting) of 39%, 37%, and 32% in 2016. Trash from the tailgating lots and the stadium also decreased by 29,000lbs last season.
"None of this would be possible without the support, leadership, and collaborative approach of Derek Liles," said Lani St. Hill, Outreach Coordinator for Waste Reduction and Recycling. "His staunch support of striving for zero waste has really created a trickle-down support to all those that work at the stadium. Derek is helping to create a culture of sustainability- not just within the stadium staff, but also for our University and our community. With his guidance and leadership, 'Zero Waste Wolfpack' is no longer an aspiration, but an attainable goal."
"I'm definitely proud of those numbers," says Liles. "I think we can continue to improve on them as we educate our contractors and fans more. I really feel like I'm getting an award for just doing my job."
Liles' Green Brick Award signifies that it's a job well done.
Sustainability Efforts at Carter-Finley Stadium
WE Recycle - Partnership between NC State Athletics, Waste Reduction & Recycling, Waste Industries
Carter-Finley Composts - Partnership between NC State Athletics and Waste Reduction & Recycling
By the Numbers:
- In 2016, 605 compost bags collected.
- Total compost pulled from Carter-Finley stadium in 2016 was an estimated 8,920 lbs (stadium, concourse, Vaughn Towers).
- Since 2003, 63,280 lbs. recycling collected (31.64 tons)
- 2016 NC State University National Rankings:
• 13th, Total Recycling (improved 1 spot from 2015)
• 32nd, Diversion Rate (improved 11 spots from 2015)
Get Involved
WE Recycle and Carter-Finley Composts relies on student and community volunteers to promote recycling and composting. In 2016, 270 volunteers participated in the program, logging over 880 hours of service. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
