A growing number of pro teams, "eager to cut costs," are asking fans to "toss their food and biodegradable cutlery, trays and cups in separate bins," according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. Teams such as the Mariners, Pirates and Trail Blazers, and events like golf's U.S. Open, are "embracing composting because it can reduce expensive fees to send trash to landfills and incinerators." Arena and stadium operators for years have focused on "recycling glass, metal and cardboard, some of which could be sold, even though food and utensils, cups and the like -- which the industry calls serviceware -- made up a greater share of their waste and created other headaches, like vermin." As the price of compostable forks, knives, spoons, plates, trays and cups "has fallen, teams have been able to expand composting throughout their venues because biodegradable serviceware allows fans to throw everything in one can." However, expanding composting to general seating areas "presents challenges: Stadium and arena operators must find a large, regular supply of compostable paper goods; extra bins must be bought and labeled so fans know what to discard and where; storage space is needed for the compost and a composter typically must be hired to haul away the waste to be processed." At least one stadium operator "is composting on its own." Last fall, the operator of MetLife Stadium "bought a composter and mixing unit, which were first placed near a loading dock, then moved to a more central location at the 750-acre sports complex." MetLife Stadium workers "throw all food and compostable serviceware into a vessel and add carbon-rich material like cardboard and paper to thicken the soupy mix" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/23).
