Convention Center Ups its Recycling Volume

The operators of the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) say 2009 was a banner year for sustainable practices at the downtown Atlanta convention center. The 3.9 million square foot facility increased recycling efforts and started baling corrugated boxes and composting behind its kitchens.

In 2009, more than 91,000 pounds (45.7 tons) of material was recycled by the convention center. That total included paper, plastic, aluminum and glass. Some 67,000 pounds (33.6 tons) of material was fed to the baler installed on site.

Composting began as a practice in March of 2009. Along with in-house caterer Levy Restaurants, the GWCC composted 275,000 pounds (137.4 tons) of food scrap in the first ten months.

The total amount of material diverted from the landfill by the GWCC through recycling and composting was more than 433,000 pounds (216.7 tons) in 2009, says the GWCC Authority.