Diversion Discussions with Alumni Kaley Cross Warner
“I always felt creating less waste was a very tangible action anyone could do to take action on the climate crisis, so joining the Zero Waste Wolves and the Waste Reduction & Recycling office was a no-brainer. I wanted a way to channel all the ideas I had to help our students, staff, and faculty reduce the amount of waste we were creating.”
From 2018 – 2020, Kaley Cross Warner was a Zero Waste Wolfpack Intern and served as vice president and president of the Zero Waste Wolves, achieving impressive results. She is a shining example of an NC State alumni success story. Her passion for waste diversion was ignited on campus, providing a strong foundation for her impactful career in waste diversion here in Raleigh, NC.
Leading the Pack In Zero Waste
As Vice President and President of Zero Waste Wolves, Kaley played a key role in recruiting members, managing meetings, and developing social media outreach. One of her most rewarding projects was expanding the Paper Towel Composting program across residence halls. Other notable accomplishments include optimizing waste bins in D.H. Hill Library and leading Zero Waste 101 workshops for students.
As Zero Waste Wolfpack Intern, Kaley helped manage game-day operations, collaborating with vendors, contractors, volunteers, and fans to divert compost and recycling at home football games. She also independently led Zero Waste Game Days for Men’s and Women’s soccer matches. When asked about a favorite memory, she laughed, recalling “the trash can full of hot dogs after every game!” One of her proudest achievements was earning the Innovators of the Year Award from the Green Sports Alliance.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Like any leader in sustainability, Kaley faced challenges. “Navigating the varied dynamics across university departments to advance projects was tough. It was sometimes difficult to identify and connect with key individuals whose buy-in was essential,” she explained. The solution? Collaborating closely with WRR staff to engage the right stakeholders and ensure new programs met everyone’s needs.
Through these experiences, Kaley gained valuable skills in waste auditing, data collection and analysis, stakeholder engagement, program development, leadership, and team management – all of which she still applies in her career today.
From Campus to Career
Kaley now plays multiple roles in the local waste diversion community:
- Venue Sustainability Coordinator at Coastal Credit Union Music Park for Live Nation
- Volunteer Programs Manager for The Great Raleigh Cleanup
- Founder of Circular Roots Consulting
She envisions a strong future for Zero Waste Wolves, hoping the group will pilot more reuse initiatives on campus and that NC State will emerge as a leader in sustainability and waste diversion in the Southeast.
When asked what advice she would give to current students interested in a similar career path, Kaley didn’t hesitate, “NETWORK. NETWORK. NETWORK. Every job I have gotten is because of who I know.”
Meet Kaley and Other Sustainability Leaders & NC State Alumni
Want to hear more about Kaley’s journey from NC State to local Waste Diversion Queen and connect with sustainability leaders who were once NC State students just like you?
Join us for For the Love of Waste: Career Panel on February 12th at 6pm in Talley Student Union! Space is limited – sign up here!
Take it from Kaley herself:
“Sign up – you may not think it will be helpful but a person on the panel may become your next boss. The internship that turned into my first job in undergrad was because I went to a presentation and stayed after to ask her a question.”
Students can make a real impact through organizations like the Zero Waste Wolves and student internships with WRR –
Kaley’s story is proof.