World Market Center Recycling Center Could be One of Nevada’s Largest

June 4, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Las Vegas on June 2007 The World Market Center in Las Vegas is readying its new on-site recycling center and refuse system for the Summer 2007 Market, July 30-August 3. The first phase of World Market Center’s on-site recycling center and refuse system was launched prior to the Winter 2007 Market last January, when more than 70 percent of all refuse was recycled. During a six-week period, World Market Center recycled 350 tons of cardboard alone.

Prior to the Winter Market, WMC partnered with Las Vegas-based Environmental Recycling Services, a vendor experienced with trade shows and hotel casinos, to find eco-friendly solutions for efficiently removing and recycling refuse from product displays, including cardboard, polystyrene foam and bubble wrap.

During the Winter market, World Market Center had a recycling baler and a polystyrene (foam) extruder in operation, which recycles the volume of foam by 98 percent. Additional equipment is being put in place prior to next month’s July market to further advance the on-site center’s output and efficiency.

The Sustainable Furniture Council, a non-profit industry association committed to promoting sustainable practices within the home furnishings industry, applauded WMC’s efforts.

“Our organization is seeded in the fact that all of us in the furniture industry have to take responsibility and do what we can,” SFC Executive Director Susan Inglis said. “I’m glad World Market Center is recycling and doing what it can, and I’m delighted it’s doing something the people of World Market Center can be proud of.”

Gerry Sawyer, chief operating officer for World Market Center, said the on-site recycling center and refuse system helps accomplish WMC’s goal to recycle a high percentage of all waste produced.

“Not only are we reducing stress on landfills, but we are being a good neighbor to the community,” he said, adding that World Market Center is helping to reduce emissions by bringing recycling on site and eliminating the need to transport refuse from World Market Center along city highways and surface streets.

“World Market Center has the potential to become one of the largest on-site recycling centers in Southern Nevada,” Sawyer said. “With the new system, we are able to dispose of materials in a rapid, efficient manner.”

The refuse system has already started paying back the cost of the equipment—not to mention preventing hundreds of dumpster loads of waste from going to Clark County landfills, according to Sawyer.

“For the year 2007 alone, we expect to see total cost savings of well over 70 percent off our trash bill. When Building C comes online in July of 2008, the annual cost savings due to the refuse system will be in excess of $300,000,” Sawyer said.

Long-time industry expert Peter Frigeri of Expo Ease recently launched trade publication Expos Going Green, which covers sustainability in meetings and exhibitions said that becoming more environmentally conscious as an industry centers on small practices being started and gaining momentum.

“It can make a large impact if everyone does just a little bit,” Frigeri said. “And, for any building or show, recycling is probably the best place to start.”

In addition to the recycling center, WMC’s environmental initiatives this summer include the previously announced Living Green Pavilion, a partnership with Sustainable Furniture Council, a new exhibition will highlighting eco-friendly home furnishings at the Sands Expo temporary show, opening on Tuesday July 31.