Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres Getty Images
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 1: A general view of the ballpark during game one of the Wild Card Series as the San Diego Padres face against the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park on October 1, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
Eco-Products® has become an Official Zero Waste Partner of the San Diego Padres, strengthening a relationship that supports Petco Park’s composting program and the team’s ongoing efforts to divert more gameday waste from landfills. Eco-Products takes a systems approach to waste diversion, helping venue operations teams, foodservice partners, waste haulers and composters work together to keep non-compostable items out of the compost stream.
“The effort at Petco Park reflects years of collaboration among organizations that are committed to getting the details right,” said Wendell Simonson, General Manager of Eco-Products. “What began with a conversation about field testing in 2022 grew into a coordinated effort with the Padres, Delaware North and Republic Services to support composting across Petco Park.”
“With millions of fans coming through our gates year-round, Petco Park has a civic duty to prioritize environmentally responsible practices,” said Padres COO Caroline Perry. “Our partnership with Eco-Products will expand access to compostable foodservice packaging and play a key role in diverting waste from our landfills, reinforcing our commitment to a more sustainable San Diego.”
In 2023, Eco-Products, Delaware North and Republic Services’ Otay composting facility worked together to select and field test a set of BPI-Certified compostable products for concessions inside the park. Multiple rounds of field testing took place over the next two years following the protocol outlined by the Compostable Field Testing Program. The process resulted in the approval of a broad range of bioplastic and fiber-based items for use inside Petco Park.
With field testing complete, the Padres officially launched their new composting program in 2025 that includes two-stream waste bins throughout Petco Park to capture compostable and recyclable materials and reduce landfill waste. The two-bin system streamlines waste management by giving fans clearly marked bins for recyclables and compostable food scraps and foodservice items, effectively eliminating the need for landfill receptacles. Petco Park’s janitorial team then sorts the collected material and removes contamination.
“Reducing waste at a venue the size of Petco Park requires a coordinated approach – from the materials used by our concession teams to how waste is collected, sorted and processed,” said Debbie Friedel, Director of Sustainability for Delaware North. “Working with Eco‑Products supports the broader zero‑waste system the Padres, Republic Services and our operations teams have built together to improve diversion and reduce landfill waste.”
In 2025, the Padres diverted a total of 2,002.8 tons of waste from the landfill, including 46.6 tons of food donated to Father Joe’s Mission and 856.1 tons of food and compostable serviceware going to Republic’s compost facility.
“Republic Services delivers diversion solutions at Petco Park through continued investments and innovation in organics recycling,” said Jesus Torres, General Manager of Republic Services. “Partnering with Eco‑Products and Delaware North supports our commitment to sustainability and helps drive meaningful environmental outcomes.”
Eco-Products has long worked with ballparks, stadiums, ski resorts and other venues to improve waste diversion by pairing compostable packaging with effective front-of-house collection programs. Eco-Products advocates for a systems-based approach to reducing contamination, reflected in its Controls Intended to Remove Contamination (CIRC) Program — a set of open-source tools designed to help the foodservice industry keep non-compostables out of organics streams.
“Compostable packaging can be very effective when there is a system in place to support it,” Simonson said. “That means choosing the right products, confirming they work for the composter and designing collection programs that manage contamination. The collaboration required to make all of that happen is the hardest part and the thing we’re most proud of here.”
Visit www.ecoproducts.com for more information.