CRRA 2023 Conference and Trade Show

Director of Stadium Operations

I am the Director of Stadium Operations at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. I am in my seventh year at USC and the Coliseum and my fourth in the director’s position. I oversee all aspects of the operations at the stadium including managing facility operations, event operations, custodial and sustainability efforts. My team and I are responsible for the day to day running and upkeep of the 100 year old stadium, event setup and execution, and capital projects to the building. I am entering my 15^th season working in stadium operations with 14 seasons of college football and 9 seasons of NFL experience. Prior to joining USC, I was at the University of Minnesota at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Going Green at The Greatest Stadium in the World

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum completes waste diversion for all USC football games and all other events over 10,000 people. Since 2015, more than 1,200 tons of Coliseum event waste has been diverted from landfills. During the 2022 football season, the Coliseum's zero waste program successfully achieved a 91.74% diversion rate. The Zero Waste Process at the Coliseum is a highly coordinated effort of multiple stakeholder and collaborators. During and after zero waste events, a team of 4-12 waste sorters review the contents of waste bin liners that have been collected by the janitorial staff and allocate them to compactors that store the waste. This is then removed from the premises by our waste haulers to the proper facilities. This presentation will breakdown that process, examine where we have found success and where we can still improve. We will also touch on future sustainability plans and efforts coordinated with USC Office of Sustainability and other stadium improvements.

Sustainability + Environmental Policy Director

Senior Environmental Specialist

Paula Morreale is a Senior Environmental Specialist at the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and has worked there for 6 years. She oversees the SAN Green Concessions Program, leads educational opportunities on various environmental topics, leads data collection related to GHG emissions and waste, and works with stakeholders for sustainable infrastructure development. Topic areas of her work include energy, water, waste, transportation, air quality, and green purchasing. Before working at the Airport Authority, Paula served as the Sustainability Coordinator at the University of San Diego for 6 years working on zero waste initiatives, student education, and alternative transportation.

San Diego Airport's Zero Waste Plan

The Zero Waste Plan (ZWP) serves as the San Diego County Regional Ariport Authority’s (Authority) strategy and plan for managing various waste issues and covers all waste generated at San Diego International Airport (Airport). The ZWP provides an organized framework for eliminating or reducing waste generation and responsibly managing materials that we do produce. The Authority sees zero waste as addressing five primary focus areas, including sustainable materials management, infrastructure and development, training and education, metrics and reporting, and leadership and influence.

This presentation will give an overview of the plan along with gaols, timelines and accomplishments to date. The presentation will also describe various successes the Authority has achieved working towards zero waste initiatives and exciting next steps towards reusable food ware at an airport. Featured items include annual recycling check-ins, education and training, annual waste audits, construction and demolition diversion, and waste data collection. 

Participants will learn how to work towards achieving zero waste goals in a complex and dynamic environment. They will also see how a large-scale organization puts in place specific policies and works collaboratively with stakeholders to further progress towards zero waste. 

Zero Waste and Compliance Lead

Evelyn is San Francisco International Airport's Zero Waste and Compliance Lead, where she is responsible for leading the design and coordination of the Airport’s transition to zero waste by way of waste reduction practices, policy, infrastructure, and program implementation. An urban planner by trade, since 2008 Evelyn’s work has focused on the intersection of urban planning, public health, sanitation, and social equity.

A Model for Zero Waste Airport Design and Operations

San Francisco International Airport is recognized as a global leader for aviation sustainability and zero waste. In 2016, SFO set the goal to achieve zero waste going to landfill and become the world’s first zero waste airport. We aim to reach this objective by 2027 through our diverse zero waste programs including, plastic-free concessions and the launch and development of our first zero waste terminal in 2023 using reusable food service ware. SFO looks to inspire and support other large organizations, public agencies, and transportation hubs in their implementation of similar policies and practices. In this presentation we will share details on the Airport’s waste reduction achievements to date, current and upcoming zero waste programs, and the challenges to implementing zero waste programs at scale.

Environmental Operations Specialist

Sustainability + Environmental Policy Director