Audit Confirms Vancouver’s First ‘Zero-Waste’ Event at the VCEC

Vancouver, BC (January 23, 2008) – With the completion of a formal audit earlier this month, the Canadian Waste & Recycling Expo, held November 27 – 29, 2007 at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre (VCEC), has now been officially recognized as Vancouver’s first audited Zero-Waste event. Carried out in cooperation with show organizer Messe Frankfurt, this accomplishment has set a standard that both organizations hope will be recognized and adopted by other centres and events.

The objective for the event was to achieve zero waste to landfill by collecting, separating, and sorting all solid waste produced, including organics, and ensuring the highest achievable rate of recycling possible with minimal energy recovery via incineration. The audit was carried out by a third party and accomplished by sealing trash compactors for the duration of the event and diverting all waste via enhanced on-site recycling facilities into roll-off containers, which were supplied to segregate the waste from the event. Contents were then sorted into various material classes and weighed for reporting purposes.

The total weight of waste materials created by the event was 3,391 lbs. Following the completion of the audit it was concluded that the original objective of zero waste to landfill was achieved with 13.4% energy recovery, 7.8% organics recovery, and a 78.8% recycling rate.

“We are really delighted that the audit has confirmed our highest expectations for the Zero-Waste program because it demonstrates just what can be done in this regard in the future, and gives us an excellent example that we can use to encourage other clients to move in the same direction”, said Catherine Wong, VCEC Vice President of Operations. “It will also allow us to make better use of the enhanced provisions we’ve put in place for waste management, such as the increased on-site collection systems”.

About the VCEC
Since opening in 1987, the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre has been British Columbia’s flagship convention facility. In fiscal year 2007, the VCEC hosted 350 events, attracted 745,000 delegate days, and generated more than $240 million in economic impact for the province of B.C. When its major expansion completes, the VCEC will offer a combined total of nearly 500,000 square feet (46,450 square metres) of function space and will serve as the Main Media Centre for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. In addition to creating more than 6,700 person years of employment during construction, the expanded VCEC will generate more than 7,500 direct and indirect full-time jobs once it is completed in 2009.

-30-