Environment

Waste Management

Reducing Carbon Emissions

Eco-Friendly Environments

Waste Management

The NEC Group pays particular attention to the 'reduce, reuse and recycle' mantra.

In our offices - We've improved waste management within our offices, encouraging our staff to recycle and segregate their waste.

At the ICC - we separate and recycle glass, cardboard and paper waste and incinerate all other waste to use for energy via a Birmingham City Council scheme run at the nearby Tyseley 'Energy from Waste' plant.

On the NEC estate - we converted a set of redundant kitchens to create a Waste Pre-Treatment Centre which opened in 2009 after a £330,000 investment, the 17,000sqm space segregates cardboard, paper, glass, wood, metal, carpet and plastic.

Facts

No material travels more than 30 miles from site for further processing

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Last year 1,262 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill

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The 2,000th tonne of waste was processed in February 2011

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This year (Apr-Jul) the NEC site is running at 42%, from zero in Feb 2009- aim to recycling 50% of waste by end of 2013~The NEC team has an ambitious target of achieving zero landfill by 2014

In 2010/11 The NEC Site Recycled

• 277 Tonnes of cardboard saving 415 tonnes of CO2
• 43 Tonnes of metal saving 602 kWh electricity
• 246 Tonnes of paper saving 4,182 trees
• 67 Tonnes of plastic saving 45,895 gallons of oil

Approximate figures for waste recycled Apr - Jul 2012

• Cardboard - 57 tonnes
• Wood - 150 tonnes
• Plastic packaging - 12 tonnes
• Metal - 12 tonnes
• Paper - 48 tonnes
• Pallets - 4 tonnes
• Glass bottles - 9 tonnes
• Carpet - 13 tonnes

Impact of take the waste out campaign aimed at catering and public circulation areas, launched in January 2011

• Target to be recycle 40% of catering waste within 3 months - achieved
• In first 3 months of this financial year 81% of waste has been recycled
• The Arena Envirobin launched during Sustainability Live- working with Leafield Environmental - these enable recycling in the public areas - new bins developed from recycling the old bins

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator

A district-based scheme installed onsite to provide chilled water for air-conditioning, electricity and hot water for heating The ICC and buildings in the immediate vicinity. A publicly visible carbon calculator keeps track of the carbon dioxide that we're saving through this scheme, minimising our own carbon footprint and providing the ability to sell carbon credits.

Energy Consumption

We have energy saving sensors fitted and use reduced energy LED lighting where possible throughout the ICC. Our switch-off procedure ensures that energy use is kept to a minimum in our event spaces and offices and that all equipment and lights are switched of when not in use, which is monitored via Security.

Carbon Neutral Events

If your aim is to minimise or totally offset the carbon emissions of your conference then the ICC can help. Our carbon calculator can give you an indication of the carbon footprint of your event. Our partners can assist with carbon offsets.

Plans are moving forward for the installation of a biomass generator on the NEC estate.

Green roof - The ICC has taken part in a pilot scheme since 2007 to turn a flat roof into an eco friendly environment and to increase insulation and ultimately enhance the landscape of flora and fauna to attract urban species to the environment. The roof provides a haven for the rare black redstart bird whose numbers are thought to be declining following increased development, and whose continuing presence in the city is precarious. The roof has also been designed to encourage ground nesting bees and wasps, invertebrates and other birds.

Bee Hotels - The ICC is home to two 'Bee Hotels' to encourage Mason Bees.

Green Wall at LG Arena - 40 metre green 'living wall' has been created at the LG Arena, with over 15,000 shrubs, ferns, ornamental grasses and hardy perennials have been planted on the wall which rises in steps from 3 metres to 5.5 metres as visitors approach the new arena with over 100 plants for every square metre of wall.

Amadeus - assists organisers in developing 'green menus' by ensuring food is sourced sustainably and as locally as possible. The ICC is part of NEC Group and utilises supplies from environmentally sustainable sources wherever possible, for example using Fair Trade tea and coffee.

Floral Trail - The ICC was part of the city's award winning Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail which won the Gold Award in the 'Urban Community' category of the RHS Britain in Bloom 2009 competition.