Food Services of America Move Towards Zero Waste at Oregon Convention Center
November 5, 2013
Food Services of America and the Oregon Convention Center reached a new high mark in their efforts to recycle, reuse or donate. FSA's Trends Show that took place Oct. 22 at the OCC achieved an 86-percent diversion rate, which included 2,080 pounds of pre-consumer food donated to the Oregon Food Bank, enough to provide 1,600 meals to the needy.
“We have about five food events a year, and while we don’t do this level of tracking for other shows, we can say it is rare to have that kind of commitment,” said OCC Sustainability Coordinator Erin Rowland. “This is about the FSA and OCC working together to be forward thinking and wanting to improve on the past.”
Owned and operated by Metro, the OCC has been on the forefront of sustainability and waste diversion for more than a decade. In 2011, it approached the FSA, one of the largest food distributors in the country, about rethinking its sustainability goals for the Trends Show, then in its second year, and working towards zero waste.
“It scared me,” said Pamela Lewis, a marketing programs and events manager at the FSA. “I didn’t know how we could do that with a food show of this size because the opportunity for waste is huge.”
She added, “Back in the day, before food waste was an issue that we paid attention to, everyone was throwing food out, even perfectly good food. One thing I learned, eventually, was that here in the United States, we waste enough food to fill the Rose Bowl every day of the year. That stadium fills 95,000 people.”
That “buy-in” is important because the OCC and FSA can’t force vendors and exhibitors to participate in diversion initiatives. But they can encourage them, in part by making sustainability practices accessible and easy to understand.
How did they do it?
“We offered a training session for exhibitors for the first time,” said Lindsey Newkirk, OCC sustainability program assistant. “We handed out flyers beforehand as we usually do. But since we aren’t sure people read them, we added a 10-minute training session where we went over goals, expectations, and reviewed what goes where, and how food donations work.”
Another improvement was the FSA’s decision to take away those omnipresent trash cans placed at each exhibitor’s booth, which make it easy to toss materials that can be recycled, composted or donated. This year, visitors and exhibitors had to walk to centralized sustainability stations where materials had to be properly disposed.
About 15 OCC staff and volunteers were on hand to engage visitors and attendees with friendly do's and don'ts of proper recycling. They also helped to ensure that during the frantic closing period the materials were properly recycled or donated to the Oregon Food Bank.
Rowland and Newkirk believe this year’s event might serve as a template for future similar food events at the OCC. “If someone has a passion for zero-waste effort, it matters,” Lewis said.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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