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By Brigitte Mertling
Most everyone is well acquainted by now with the
3 R’s — “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Indeed, recycling is one of North
America’s biggest success stories. The made-in-Canada innovation of citywide
“Blue Box” recycling programs now serves more than 40 million households
internationally.
Yet, despite the excellent gains made on the recycling front, much more work
clearly needs to be done. Global warming, climate change, pollution and
environmental degradation are still urgent, top-of-mind concerns. Why?
Because too much emphasis is still being placed on waste management, rather
than elimination. Landfills and incinerators are not the answer. Current
thinking centers more on sustainability: How do we become responsible
stewards of the earth’s atmosphere and ecosystems?
The next step is a concept called zero waste. Part of a growing
international movement, zero waste goes the logical next step beyond
recycling. Rather than striving to divert some waste from landfills and
incinerators, it 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.
For many, it’s a creative new philosophy, an entirely different “whole
system” planning approach for the 21st century. It’s one that tackles the
front end of the waste stream rather than the back end. And it makes sense.
MTCC Achieves Zero Waste
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) recently decided to play a
leadership role in zero waste within its industry by hosting its own Zero
Waste Challenge event. With two million square feet of space, the MTCC
welcomes more than 1.9 million visitors each year. Sometimes there are as
many as 40,000 people on site attending a show or convention. With that many
people spending time inside this huge building, waste management and
recycling are ongoing, major priorities.
The Centre is already well recognized for its outstanding record as an
environmentally friendly, “green” building. “We wanted to build on our
reputation in this area,” explains Vince Quattrociocchi, the MTCC’s vice
president of operations. “The MTCC has always felt a need to be
environmentally responsible. As facility operators, we have a responsibility
to be a good corporate citizen.”
Quattrociocchi notes 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). He cites such measures as the building’s enormous
300,000- sq.-ft. green roof, the Centre’s partnership with Second Harvest
for food leftovers (2,000 lbs. recycled annually), and other sustainability
programs, such as being the first facility on Enwave Energy’s Deep Lake
Water Cooling system. The Deep Lake Water technology provides the Centre’s
building cooling by using cold water extracted from Lake Ontario — an HVAC
solution that is as green as you can get, according to Quattrochiocchi.
The MTCC was recognized for its efforts with a Silver Award at this year’s
Recycling Council of Ontario Minimization Awards, which honor innovation in
waste reduction programs. The Centre is also in the midst of applying for
BOMA’s “Go Green” designation. Who better to show just how it can be done?
A Multilevel Strategy Spells Success
To meet the challenge of achieving a zero waste event, the MTCC partnered
with its 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. 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.
A major component of Construct Canada focuses on “greening” and
sustainability. The show includes EcoBuild Canada, which highlights green
building products, practices, technologies, and tools, making it a natural
choice for the MTCC’s Zero Waste Challenge Event, says George Przybylowski,
a principal at York Communications.
 “We
provide an industry-wide profile for design and construction that leads to
high-performance buildings that are environmentally friendly and make
efficient use of air conditioning, heating and lighting systems. It made an
awful lot of sense to have our event lead the way on Zero Waste,” he notes.
“The MTCC is the first in Canada to achieve this designation, and we were
very proud to be associated with it.”
The show was also the most complex and challenging one hosted by the MTCC
from a waste management point of view, adds Leonidas (Louis) Anagnostakos,
co-founder of Turtle Island. With more than 700 companies, almost 1,100
exhibits and nearly 23,000 people attending over three days, the show took
up the entire MTCC exhibit hall.
Exhibitors had a wide variety of materials on display, including stone,
bricks, asphalt, wood, and concrete. Consequently, Construct Canada
typically produces a lot of waste beyond the usual paper, cardboard and
pamphlettype waste associated with conventions and shows, as well as a lot
of wet waste from Food & Beverage services. Last year, for example, it
produced 23 metric tons of waste, only 10% of which was diverted from
landfill and recycled.
 The
MTCC, York and Turtle Island teams worked together to develop a multilevel
strategy to achieve the zero waste objective. Their first tactic was to
substitute plastic cups and plates for the nonrecyclable ones made from
Styrofoam. Secondly, training all staff properly was an important part of
the program, and 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 home.
Incredible Results
The result: The event recycled 26 metric tons, achieving an
astonishing waste diversion rate of 95%. The remaining 5% consisted mainly
of carpet scraps left behind by exhibitors. Almost half of the diverted
waste (almost 12 metric tons) was paper fibers.
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TAKE HOME POINTS
• Too much emphasis is still
being placed on waste management rather than elimination.
• Despite the excellent gains made on the recycling front, much more
work clearly needs to be done.
• The Zero Waste Challenge was able to recycle 26 metric tons, achieving
an astonishing waste diversion rate of 95%. |
The MTCC calculates the effort saved 238 trees,
approximately 4,300 gallons of water and close to 30 cubic yards of landfill
space. “The MTCC has really set the bar higher for everybody by picking such
a large and challenging show. It’s unprecedented and just the kind of
leadership that is needed to mobilize companies and organizations
everywhere,” says Przybylowski.
Quattrociocchi says the MTCC and its management couldn’t be more pleased.
“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.”
Brigitte Mertling is a
principal with Image Script Communications & Marketing Inc. |
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