THE CNE: It's Easy Being Green at the Fair!
2010 CNE Organizers celebrate Earth Day with a commitment to surpass their green goals already the best of North American fairs.
TORONTO, April 22 /CNW/ - The Organizers of the 2010 Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) are committed to surpass their 2009 "green" achievements with an even greater expansion of environmental initiatives and the introduction of new programs.
"The CNE is the greenest fair in North America as recognized by the association of fair and industry organizations," says Virginia Ludy, the CNE's Director of Operations and Acting General Manager. "The CNE has been tracking its recycling, energy conservation and reviewing all its operations with the environment in mind. Each year, we look at ways to improve or expand "green" thinking from the visitor experience, to the midway to exhibitors and vendors. It's ongoing, but we're finding everyone is embracing our initiatives which enable us to reach our targets and reduce our overall impact on the environment."
Last summer, the CNE re-cycled 77.3% (1,228,120 kg) of its total waste which was diverted from landfill.
2010 Initiatives:
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- This year CNE will be expanding its organic waste re-cycling program
throughout the grounds. Last year, organic waste was recycled in the
Food Building, Direct Energy Centre and RibFest areas only.
- All Styrofoam will be eliminated on the grounds at the 2010 fair.
- All Food Vendors will be required to use compostable plates, cups
etc.
- The Environmental Initiatives deposit program, which was introduced
in 2009 with the fair's outdoor concessionaires and Food Building
vendors, will be expanded to include all exhibitors by 2011.
- There will be no beer bottles used on site during the CNE. All beer
will be served in cans thereby minimizing the need for plastic cups.
All cups used in beer service will be made of compostable materials.
The overall number of cups used is expected to decrease by more than
50% by moving to cans.
- The CNE will be expanding its Energy Conservation Program and will be
working with Exhibitors and Concessionaires to expand its electrical
conservation program. "Kilowatt Cops" will patrol the grounds to
ensure that energy is not being wasted.
- In 2010, the CNE will begin to explore a water conservation program.
- At this summer's fair, the CNE will be expanding its self-serve water
stations program by adding 5 more water stations (with four spigots
each) for a total of 10 water stations located throughout the CNE
grounds. Here, visitors can re-fill their own water bottles with City
of Toronto tap water.
Other 2010 initiatives:
- The Geo Thermal system in the Press Building is now fully on-line
- Bottled water which had been provided to staff at gates and other
outdoor locations was replaced with refillable drinking vessels and
staff was educated where the closest refill station is.
- Working with concessionaires in trying to find alternative low energy
lights for midway rides and games.
- Encouraging food concessionaires and Food Building exhibitors to buy
locally grown food products.
- Working with our midway provider North American Midway Entertainment
in rolling out their environmental plan. Examples include reducing
the number of trucks used to move the show, turning off of air
conditioners in housing units and offices during non-use periods of
time, converting lights on rides to low energy alternatives,
exploring the use of cooking grease to fuel generators etc.
- Reducing the use of gas powered golf carts and Kubota's during the
fair period.
- Encourage patrons coming to the CNE by public transit, bicycle or
walking.
Greening the CNE - History of Firsts
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2009:
- Recycled 77.3% of total waste. The solid waste re-cycled included:
- 189,880 kg of cardboard; 267,611 kg clean fill/soil/sand;
147,249 kg organic waste; 229,068 kg manure; 89,891 kg
glass/cans/plastic; 21,418 kg grease; 27,0005 kg plastic wrap;
25,500 kg hand towels.
- Introduced the CNE Smart Award, which was presented to Premier
Amusements for its solar powered Duck Pond game
- Temperature levels for all air conditioned buildings were set at 25
degrees and all doors were closed when air conditioning system was
being utilized. Air conditioning was also turned off during move-in
and move-out and non-show hours.
- All service orders for outdoor concessionaires and food-building
exhibitors were included in their contracts thus reducing the need to
distribute paper order forms.
- All concessionaires and food building exhibitors were required to
make an Environmental Deposit which was refunded to those exhibitors
and concessionaires who implemented energy conservation and waste
reduction programs.
- The number of solar powered garbage compactors was increased to three
on the site.
2008:
- CNE was the first event at Exhibition Place to introduce organic
recycling for food waste and organic materials.
- CNE accelerated its recycling of paper hand towels, manure, wood
concrete, clean fill, cardboard, plastics and cans, fluorescent
bulbs, batteries and wood.
- CNE added another solar powered compactor in one of the sorting
stations.
- More electronic distribution of information to exhibitors and
concessionaires.
- More LED lights incorporated into decorative features of the fair
thus replacing the use of incandescent bulbs.
- CNE solar powered golf carts introduced into the fleet of golf carts.
In addition, staff encouraged to limit the use of gas powered golf
carts.
- First-time inclusion of two new solar powered concessions games on
the midway.
- New requirements for midway contractor and all concessionaires to
provide plans for how they will reduce their impact on environment
and reduce energy consumption.
- All kitchen cooking grease was sold to a local poultry farmer who
cleansed the grease and uses it as a natural growth supplement for
his poultry.
2007
- CNE featured a solar powered compactor in one of the sorting
stations.
- CNE Concessions Department had a new web link developed for Food
Building Concessionaires and Exhibitors through which information
that was previously distributed to them in hard copy form was now
made available to them electronically.
- In 2007, staff introduced new regulations for outdoor concessionaires
whereby decorative lights were to be turned off during day light
hours.
2006
- CNE converted all decorative lighting in trees to LED lights; this
program was expanded in 2007 and 2008 and continued in 2009.
- In 2006, the CNE Operations Department followed the lead of
Exhibition Place Parking and successfully converted three large
parking lots to solar powered pay and display lots. This eliminated
the need for installing parking kiosks that consumed electricity from
the electrical grid.
2005
- New bicycle racks and bike parking areas were provided at each of the
CNE pedestrian gates. These areas have had to be expanded each year
due to demand by our visitors.
- The CNE expanded the bicycle permit program on the grounds whereby
staff and exhibitors will now be permitted to use bicycles with
restrictions similar to those in place for golf carts.
- All advance pass sales for exhibitors and concessionaires were done
electronically reducing the amount of paper required for these
transactions.
About the CNE
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is Canada's largest fair and the fifth largest in North America. Founded in 1879, the CNE attracts more than a million visitors over 18 days and generates more than $50 million in economic impact for the City of Toronto and over $70 million for the Province of Ontario on an annual basis. The 2010 CNE takes place from August 20 to September 6 and offers more than 100 concerts, events and attractions that are all free with admission to the fair. Visit TheEx.com for details.
For further information: Annette Borger, (647) 439-5481, [email protected]
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