Expo Center’s Portland Spring Home & Garden Show 2011 inspires DIY community, achieves record levels of reuse and recycling
This year's Spring Home & Garden Show at the Portland Expo Center once again provided a wealth of sustainable home improvement and landscaping ideas – as well as a record level of material reuse and recycling once the show was over.
Thousands of people visited the Expo Center to peruse the latest in home and landscape design, remodel and construction last month at the 2011 Spring Home & Garden Show. Seeking inspiration from the sights of specialty landscapes, such as the Susan G. Komen-inspired, pink-hued garden which boasted artistic pathways and a serene reflecting pond, or the U.S. Bank Smart Home, constructed of sustainable building products by local contractors, many “Do-It-Yourselfers” left energized with great ideas for their homes and gardens.
Portland Expo Center staff and long-time client O’Loughlin Trade Shows, producer of both Spring and Fall Home & Garden Shows, closed the show with their own inspiration: to capitalize on the trend their collaborative efforts have produced in increasing show material diversion rates. Thanks to a concerted effort among facility and show staff, the materials used to construct the elaborate show and vendor exhibits this year were diverted from landfills at a rate of 86 percent, up 17 percent from last year. Next year, the team intends to increase the rate even further.
The 2011 show generated 61 tons of materials, 53 tons of which was diverted through recycling, composting or arranging for re-use. The team credits enhanced planning for show logistics and signage – and even a bit of dumpster diving to ensure the accuracy of items in sorted bins for their success in avoiding the landfill. Expo Center staff have also committed to learn and train clients and vendors on the center’s sustainable business practices and goals.
Below is a breakdown of materials used for the 2011 Portland Spring Home & Garden Show at Expo:
Garbage 8.78 tons
Cardboard 2.54 tons
Wood 3.01 tons
Concrete 31.80 tons
Plant Material/Sod 14.38 tons
Bark Dust
Organic Compost 0.42 tons
Cans/Plastic Bottles 0.12 tons
MSW/Co-mingle 0.34 tons
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Total weight collected: 61.37 tons
Total weight to the landfill: 8.78 tons
Total weight diverted: 52.61 tons
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2010 Diversion: 69 percent
2011 Diversion: 86 percent
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Photo courtesy of Bruce Forster