Making Your Fair Environmentally Friendly

1. Making Your Fair Environmentally Friendly

2. Who Are We? • The CNE is the largest annual fair in Canada and 5th largest in North America • Founded in 1879 to fulfill the community’s need to encourage the development of agriculture, manufacturing, industry, commerce, and the arts. • Today, although it has maintained all the traditional elements outlined in the original mandate, it has evolved into an entertainment experience for the people of Toronto and surrounding areas. • The CNE takes place during the last 18 days of summer leading up to Labour Day, and attracts approximately 1.25 million people annually

3. Steps we take to make our Fair Environmentally Friendly • The CNE strives to produce an event which is environmentally sensitive • As a good corporate partner a major goal of the Fair is to reduce negative impacts on the environment. • The CNE accomplishes this by the reduction of waste through an aggressive recycling program, energy and water conservation program and control of emissions into the atmosphere.

4. Current Environmental Initiatives • Participation in city wide environmental initiatives • Public education program • Alternative environmentally friendly energy sources • Energy conservation program • Alternative travel mechanisms • Environmentally friendly supplies • Waste diversion and recycling program • Water conservation

5. CNE Involvement in City Environmental Initiatives-Tree Advocacy Program • The CNE utilizes waterfront parkland for parking during the Fair. To offset the environmental impact of this activity, the CNE participates in the City of Toronto Tree Advocacy Program by contributing a percentage of parking revenues to the fund. • Since the CNE began participating in this program in 2000 the CNE has contributed over $160,000 to the fund for the planting of new trees throughout the city.

6. Benefits of Participating in the Tree Advocacy Program • Trees improve the air quality; each tree can reduce airborne dust particles by as much as 7,000 particles per litre of air • Trees absorb carbon • Trees help prevent soil erosion • One large tree can provide a days oxygen for up to four people • Trees help reduce energy cost by shading buildings in the summer and protecting them from winter winds* • Source: The Exhibition Place Environmental Plan Walking Tour Brochure

7. Public Education Program:“Green Day” • Each year, one day of the CNE is designated as “Green Day”, showcasing the latest in environmental technologies. The CNE “Green Day” incorporates community activities and initiatives that illustrate how we can work to protect and sustain our planet

8. Environmentally Friendly Energy Sources at Exhibition Place • Construction of the first Urban Wind Turbine in Canada • Participation in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Project • Construction of Tri-generation System • Implementation of 100 kilowatt Photovoltaic Power Generation Plant • Geothermal Plant

9. Energy Conservation • Introduction of S-M-A-R-T (Saving Money and the Air by Reducing Trips) program for employees • Undertaking energy efficiency retrofit projects in five building 2005-2007 • Providing additional bike storage facilities to encourage patrons to cycle to and around the site • Establishing standardized temperature set points for all buildings based on use • Establishing building protocols whereby all loading doors are kept shut and limiting access to certain entrances when heating/air conditioning systems are activated • Deactivating escalators, reducing lighting during non-show periods • Turning off concession marquees and booth lighting until dusk • Establishing energy conservation goals with partners and suppliers

10. Alternative Energy Sources and Conservation • The annual production of energy and/or reduction in energy use resulting from these initiatives will be approximately 13.7 million kilowatt-hours • The annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions resulting from all these measures will be approximately 10,970 tonnes* *Source Exhibition Place web site

11. Alternative Travel Mechanisms • Promote use of public transit by visitors through advance sale discounts to public transit riders • Promotion of public transit access to the fair through various marketing communication initiatives • Increased service levels by public transit providers to meet demand of visitors • Promote group sales through bus companies • Promotion of City of Toronto bike week

12. Alternative Travel Mechanisms (continued) • Provision of safe and accessible bike storage parking areas’ • Bike access passes for employees and sponsors • Promotion of bike paths accessing the site

13. Environmentally Friendly Supplies • Use of FSC paper products utilizing 100% post consumer recycled paper* • Conversion of decorative lighting to LED lights • Biodegradable food service plates, cups and utensils • Use of bio-diesel fuels in equipment • Solar powered parking point of sale kiosks • Solar powered garbage compactors • Use of environmentally cleaning products • Low emission electrical generators • Reduction of paper distributed to partners through the development of a web link which provides electronically generated information to our exhibitors and concessionaires *Source Exhibition Place Web Site

14. The CNE currently recycles the following: Organic waste Batteries Cardboard Light bulbs Paper Rubber tires Wood Hand towels Manure Clean fill Steel Hazardous waste Ink cartridges Cooking grease Concrete and asphalt Street sweepings Dry wall Plastic Electric wire and plumbing copper Waste Diversion & Recycling Program

15. How Much We Recycle • Cardboard 91,587kg or 92 tonnes • Clean Fill 253,270kg or 253 tonnes • Co-Mingled 55,010kg or 55 tonnes • Hazardous Waste 200kg or 0.2 tonnes • Hay/Manure 212,706kg or 213 tonnes • Organic Waste 36,446kg or 36 tonnes • Paper Hand Towel 18,678kg or 19 tonnes • Steel 3,318kg or 3.3 tonnes • Wood 36,600kg or 37 tonnes • Office Paper 4,782kg or 4.8 tonnes • Plastics 10,500kg or 10.5 tonnes • Total for Diverted Waste = 724 tonnes • Solid Waste 427,910kg or 428 tonnes • Total for All Wastes Types = 1,152 tonnes Total Waste Diverted = 63% Source Exhibition Place Cleaning Department

16. Water Conservation • Currently use low flush toilets and automatic water faucets • Installing grey water cistern to provide water for toilets • Use reclaimed water from Lake Ontario for irrigation

17. Future Goals • Exhibition Place and the CNE will be self sufficient and independent of the electrical grid by 2010 • 70% of all waste product will be diverted from landfill by the year 2010 *Source Exhibition Place Web Site

18. How We Are Going to Achieve These Goals • Expansion of organic recycling program to include organics recycling in all areas of the CNE • Enhanced public education program • Expansion of LED lighting program to include rides and concession marquees • Use of battery powered golf carts instead of gas powered • Compulsory use of bio-degradable utensils and plates by all concessionaires at the CNE • Continued development of alternative energy sources • Development of a new incentive program to encourage concessionaires and exhibitors to replace high energy consuming appliances and lighting systems with new low energy appliances and systems • Requirement for all suppliers to provide a plan of environmental initiatives that would take place during the term of agreements

19. What You Can Do At Your Fair • Establish attainable goals and timeline • Form a waste diversion/energy efficiency committee involving all stakeholders • Educate your audience about your initiatives and what they can do to contribute • Find out what current programs your community has in place and how you can participate • Communicate with industry partners for tips and ideas • Engage local environmental advocates, your community, your staff • Establish a realistic budget recognizing that some measures will require financial resources while other will generate revenue

20. What You Can Do At Your Fair (Continued) • In everything you do assess the environmental impact of the activity and how you can minimize the impact Example: Instead of a tractor pull maybe you have a horse team pull • Make all your fair participants aware that you are an environmentally friendly event and that they should be striving to undertake their activities with minimal impact on the environment • Make it a condition of engagement with your partners that they must have an environmental plan which shows how they will minimize their impact on the environment • Create incentives to entice your partners to strive to this goal Example: Create a Environmental Awards Program that recognizes partners who are environmentally friendly • Establish minimum environmental standards for your event that all partners must meet in order to participate Example: All food concessionaires must separate food waste so that it can be composted All concessionaires must not turn on decorative lighting until dusk

21. What You Can Do At Your Fair (Continued) • Lead by example • Use LED lighting in your facilities • Establish lighting and temperature protocols for your buildings • Transition to energy efficient equipment • Use alternative powered equipment where possible

22. Energy Conservation • Eliminate use of decorative lighting during daylight hours • Use battery/solar powered equipment where possible • Work with your community and utility supplier to develop alternative energy sources

23. In Closing • The Number One way to reduce waste at your fair is : • FOOD ON A STICK!