Canadian National Exhibition - Environmental Initiatives

Environmental Initiatives

Environmental friendly and recyclable energy is a main concern for many corporations. As one of the most famous fairs in North America, the CNE is finding ways in which they can be more environmentally friendly and implementing these steps. A fair is not just for fun, it is also a opportunity for people to do something to help out the environment, and make our world a better place.

The 2008 CNE diverted an estimated 70% of all solid waste from landfills and reduced its energy use by 1.06 megawatts since 2005. These numbers translate into a significant reduction in greenhouse gases including reducing the CNE’s carbon footprint by 267.32 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This is a great improvement for the CNE. As the greenhouse gases have become a global issue, finding a solution to deal with or lessen this problem is very important. Moreover, the CNE also sets a good example for other fairs to follow.

According to CNE General Manager David Bednar, “Canadians are very much aware of the responsibility to protect the environment and the CNE reflects that awareness, making green initiatives an integral part of our planning.”

In 2008 the CNE posted close to 10% improvement than in the previous year concerning waste diversion statistics. This improvement was a result of several changes in the recycling program including an increase in three and four stream waste collection receptacles allowing easier sorting of recyclable refuse; a new partnership with a third-party contractor which carefully sifts all collected waste for recyclable materials; and “buy-in” by all CNE exhibitors, food vendors and visitors. CNE is trying to enhance their ability of contribute to the environment. CNE pay attention to control the waste and make the waste become recyclable.

“Overall, the Canadian National Exhibition can likely be cited as the greenest fair in North America, having re-cycled 77.3% of solid waste (1,228,120 kg or 558, 236 lbs was diverted) during the 18 days of the 2009 fair.”

In 2010, the Canadian National Exhibition became the first fair in North America and the first large-scale event on the continent to receive EcoLogo certification, one of North America’s largest and most respected environmental standard and certification marks. EcoLogo certification is based on stringent criteria that examine the entire lifecycle of a product and the CNE’s success in achieving this honour formally recognizes the fair as an environmental leader. (Canadian National Exhibition is EcoLogo™ - Certified to Events CCD-095.)

Here is the timeline of CNE's initiatives

2010:

• 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 2conservation 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 refill their own water bottles with City of Toronto tap water

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.

These timeline clearly shows that CNE find many ways to protect the environment. Each year CNE has a plan to improve their initiatives. Also. there is the Green day at CNE. At that day. the whole section is about the environment and the new technology to help with environmental issues.