Xcel Energy Center wins awards for being green!

The Xcel Energy Center, along with the St Paul RiverCentre, released the 2nd annual Sustainability Report this week. The venues have successfully completed the "50-50 in 2" waste reduction initiative they set out to do. You, like me, may be wondering what the "50-50 in 2" means! Well, the X, RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins set out to reduce the amount of waste generated by 50% as well as increase the amount of recycling to 50%, by July 2011. Starting two years ago, these venues increased the amount of recycling bins--which is now 1 to 1 with trash cans!

Over 90% of the food service disposables have been switched to compostables, which has made some areas, such as the Treasure Island Ice Lodge in the Xcel, to become almost trash-free! The cups, plates and utensils are now added along with food leftovers into a compost. All bottles and cans are recycled.

These facilities also won the 2011 Recycling Association of Minnesota's 'Green Project' Award for the leaps and bounds reduction in waste they have made!

Way to Go Green!