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MTCC Achieves Zero Waste Event, Sets Bar Higher for Industry, Business

MTCC Achieves Zero Waste Event, Sets Bar Higher for Industry, Business

Published 05-08-06

Submitted by Metro Toronto Convention Centre, The

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) recently announced that it has succeeded in mounting a Zero Waste Event. This represents a Canadian first within the facilities industry, according to industry experts, and reaffirms the Centre's tradition of leadership in environmental responsibility.

To meet its self-imposed "Zero Waste Challenge", the MTCC recently partnered with long-time supplier, Turtle Island Recycling, a highly respected recycling and waste management company, and York Communications, one of Canada's foremost event management companies. York is the organizer of Construct Canada, an annual exposition and conference for professionals in the building design, construction and renovation industries.

Construct Canada is one of the most complex and challenging shows hosted by the MTCC from a waste management point of view, noted Leonidas (Louis) Anagnostakos, Co-Founder of Turtle Island. With more than 700 companies, almost 1,100 exhibits and nearly 23,000 people attending over a three-day period, the show took up the entire MTCC exhibit hall. In addition, show exhibitors had a wide variety of materials on display, including stone, bricks, asphalt, wood, and concrete - well beyond the usual paper, pamphlets, cardboard and packing boxes associated with regular conventions and trade shows.

Results: waste diversion rate soars

Thanks to a multi-level strategy put in place by the MTCC, York and Turtle Island, the event won the enthusiastic participation of virtually all exhibitors and attendees, and was able to recycle 26 metric tons. Almost half of the diverted waste (almost 12 metric tons), was paper fibres. The MTCC calculates this saved 238 trees, approximately 4,300 gallons of water, and close to 30 cubic yards of landfill space.

This is an enormous change from past shows, explained Vince Quattrociocchi, the MTCC's Vice-President, Operations. Last year, for example, Construct Canada produced 23 metric tons of waste, only 10% of which was diverted from landfill and recycled.

"The MTCC has really set the bar higher for everybody by picking such a big and challenging show. It's unprecedented and just the kind of leadership that is needed to mobilize companies and organizations everywhere," said George Przybylowski, a York principal. "We're very proud to have been a part of creating this ambitious new benchmark," he added.

MTCC long recognized for being environmentally-friendly

The MTCC is already well recognized for its outstanding record as an environmentally friendly, "green" building. Quattrociocchi noted that the MTCC has a solid record in recycling, which is currently at 56%, and energy conservation (overall average reduction of 40% in the past five years). The building also has an enormous 300,000-square-foot green roof, a partnership with Second Harvest for food leftovers (2,000 lbs. recycled annually), and a variety of other sustainability programs.

In addition, the MTCC was the first facility to be on Enwave Energy's Deep Lake Water Cooling system, launched in 2004. The Deep Lake Water technology provides the Centre's building cooling by using cold water extracted from Lake Ontario. "It's an HVAC solution that is as green as you can get," Quattrociocchi said. "We wanted to build on our reputation in this area by leading the way on Zero Waste too," explained Quattrociocchi. "As facility operators, we have a responsibility to be a good corporate citizen."

The MTCC was recognized for its efforts with a Silver Award at this year's Recycling Council of Ontario Minimization Awards, which honours innovation in waste reduction programs. The Centre is also in the midst of applying for BOMA's "Go Green" designation.

MTCC CEO Barry Smith said that the MTCC and its management team couldn't be more pleased with results of this latest initiative. "With the overwhelming success of this Zero Waste event, the Centre will continue to find new and innovative ways to improve on our successes and to be an advocate for the environment."

About the MTCC

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is Canada's #1 trade and convention facility and one of the finest in North America. With more than 2 million square feet of state-of-the-art space, it is considered a world-class, tier-one facility. The MTCC has welcomed more than 25 million visitors since its opening in 1984. The Centre hosts more than 700 events annually, ranging in size from large international conventions to small local corporate meetings, for groups of 40 to 40,000.

For Further Information Contact:

Heather Evans, Marketing Manager (416)585-8126

Vince Quattrociocchi, Vice President, Operations (416)585-8238

BACKGROUNDER: About "Zero Waste"

Part of a growing international movement, Zero Waste goes the logical next step beyond the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra of modern recycling programs.

Rather than striving to divert some waste from landfills and incinerators, Zero Waste emphasizes resource conservation, efficiency, reduced consumption, maximum reuse and recycling. Its focus is on waste prevention and even the total elimination of waste - all as part of sustainable economic growth.

The movement is gaining momentum around the world because of increasing concerns about global warming, climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation. Despite the excellent gains made on the recycling front over the past 20 years, many environmentalists feel that clearly much more work needs to be done. They believe too much emphasis is still being placed on waste management, rather than elimination. Current thinking centres more on "sustainability": how do we become responsible stewards of the Earth's atmosphere and ecosystems?

For many, Zero Waste is the answer. It is considered a creative new philosophy, an entirely different "whole system" planning approach for the 21st Century, primarily because it tackles the front end of the waste stream rather than the back end.

BACKGROUNDER: How they did it.

A multi-level strategy spells success for MTCC's first Zero Waste event

The MTCC, York and Turtle Island teams worked together to develop a multi-level strategy to achieve their Zero Waste objective at Construct Canada.

Their first tactic was to substitute plastic cups and plates for the non-recyclable ones made of Styrofoam. Secondly, training all staff properly was an important part of the program. All employees eagerly supported it. To show that the MTCC was serious about this initiative, the Centre's seven garbage compactors were removed from the building during the event.

A special Zero Waste Challenge logo and slogan, "Let's All Pitch In", was created and displayed prominently on napkins, T-shirts, posters and floor decals throughout the exhibit hall to help rally support for the cause. Special handouts were also prepared for exhibitors, asking them to minimize their waste.

To maximize convenience, Turtle Island installed customized 3-bin separated waste containers for bottles and cans, paper and organic waste at all concessions and food service locations. Turtle Island staff also supervised the docks at the end of the show to ensure departing exhibitors were clear on which bin to use and what materials to take back home with them.

The 17th Annual Construct Canada show was held at the MTCC November 30-December 2, 2005. Attendees ranged from architects and designers to contractors, engineers, renovators and technologists of commercial, institutional and high-rise buildings.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, The

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, The

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