San Diego Convention Center named Recycler of the Year

For the third time, the San Diego Convention Center Corporation (SDCCC) is receiving the City of San Diego’s Recycler of the Year Award. The SDCCC was previously honored by the city for its environmental efforts in 2008 and 2010.

The award is part of the city’s 19th Annual Waste Reduction and Diversion Awards Program recognizing businesses that have implemented successful waste reduction, reuse, recycling and recycled product procurement programs. Mayor Jerry Sanders presented the awards at the USS Midway Museum.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the city for our recycling programs,” said Carol Wallace, president and CEO of SDCCC. “This award is a tribute to the ongoing commitment and dedication of our employees and their daily efforts to help protect our environment.”

“We practice Earth Day every day at the Convention Center,” said Brad Gessner, general manager. “From the day we opened our building more than 20 years ago, we’ve always had a recycling program in place, long before other major convention facilities.”

“Now, we have a dedicated in-house ‘green team,’ and besides continually looking for ways to reduce the impact of large events on the environment, we encourage everyone to make simple lifestyle changes that can make a big difference in our efforts to protect our planet for everyone,” Gessner added.

Last year alone, the Convention Center’s efforts to minimize waste reduction, increase energy efficiency and to conserve water resulted in:

• Recycling more than 45 percent of total waste including cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, aluminum and food waste
• Diverting nearly 800 tons of materials away from landfills
• Saving 3.4 million kilowatts through energy-efficient retrofits, lighting and equipment
• Conserving 81,026 gallons of water through low-flow sinks and toilets, drip irrigation and energy-efficient kitchen equipment

The most recent green improvement was the installation of florescent lighting in the building’s 525,701 square foot exhibit hall, which took place in December 2010. The new lighting fixtures will reduce energy consumption by approximately 44 percent and makes the SDCCC first convention center in the nation to go 100 percent florescent in the exhibit halls.