|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
(10/31/06)
MTCC Takes Top Honours at Recycling Council of Ontario’s 2006 Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
TORONTO, October 31, 2006 – The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) today announced that it has won the Gold Award in the Ontario Waste Minimization Awards 2006 competition. The award was bestowed on the MTCC by the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO).
The MTCC took the gold in the Facility Management Category at RCO’s Ontario Waste Minimization Awards 2006 gala ceremony, held in Toronto October 19, 2006 before an audience of more than 150 leaders and other representatives of Ontario’s government, municipalities, building owners and corporations. John Jackson, Director of the RCO presented the award to Vince Quattrociocchi, the MTCC’s Vice-President, Operations.
The gala event and Awards are the highlight of annual Waste Reduction Week (WRW) celebrations in Canada, held October 16–22 this year. During the specially themed week, communities across the country are encouraged to promote the “3R” principles – reduce, reuse, recycle -- and to help others understand and adopt the benefits of waste free living.
The awards continue a 23-year tradition of honouring and recognizing provincial waste diversion champions – people and organizations which demonstrate excellence and leadership in the creation of waste reduction/diversion initiatives.
The Facility Management Award Category recognizes buildings that showcase an internal waste minimization program. Eligible buildings include all levels of government, commercial properties, property management companies, educational and health care facilities. The MTCC was recognized for its efforts last year too with a Silver Award in the Business Category.
Diane Blackburn, the Recycling Council’s Events Manager, explained that the MTCC was selected because of the outstanding example it is setting. “The MTCC is showing exemplary leadership,” she said. “The Centre is working all aspects of waste management, waste diversion, energy efficiency, and air and water quality. It’s a holistic approach, managing every aspect of their environment. This award recognizes the excellent job they’re doing in everything they undertake,” she added.
"Congratulations to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on its stellar environmental performance, and the well-deserved recognition those efforts are earning," said Ontario Tourism Minister Jim Bradley. "The MTCC is not only helping to keep Toronto clean and attractive, it is hosting events that bring millions of visitors to the city and province."
MTCC CEO Barry Smith said that the MTCC and its management team couldn’t be more pleased with winning the RCO award again this year. “It’s a clear endorsement of how successful we’ve been in our efforts. The Centre will continue to find new and innovative ways to improve on our successes and to be an advocate for the environment.”
MTCC long recognized for being environmentally-friendly
The MTCC is already well recognized for its outstanding record as an environmentally friendly, “green” building. The MTCC has a solid record in recycling, which is currently at 64%, 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, which uses cold water extracted from Lake Ontario to cool buildings.
Earlier this year, the MTCC succeeded in mounting a Zero Waste Event, which represented a Canadian first within the facilities industry, according to industry experts. Part of a growing international movement, Zero Waste focuses on waste prevention and even the total elimination of waste – all as part of sustainable economic growth. Using a multi-level strategy, the MTCC’s waste diversion rate soared: the Centre was able to recycle 26 metric tons of waste from a major conference, compared to the previous year when the same conference produced 23 metric tons of waste, only 10% of which was diverted from landfill and recycled.
"The example being set by the MTCC is one I would encourage all of Toronto's commercial property owners to look to," said Toronto Mayor David Miller. "This award is an acknowledgment that the steps they are taking to reduce the amount of waste coming out of Toronto are paying off. Toronto homeowners are doing their part through our recycling and Green Bin programs and it's gratifying to see businesses getting involved as well."
About the Recycling Council of Ontario
The Recycling Council of Ontario is a not-for-profit organization committed to minimizing society's impact on the environment by eliminating waste. RCO's mission is to inform and educate all members of society about the generation of waste, the avoidance of waste, the more efficient use of resources and the benefits and/or consequences of these activities. Since its inception in 1978, RCO has actively assisted municipalities, corporations, other organizations and individuals in reducing their waste.
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 OR Vince Quattrociocchi,
Marketing Manager Vice President, Operations
(416) 585-8126 (416) 585-8238
www.mtccc.com
|
| |
|
|
|
|
