The Lansing Center’s journey toward environmental stewardship began with just a few employees noticing that some small changes could make operations a little greener.
Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority building engineer Dan Clark, for one, saw firsthand just how many recyclable materials were going out the door every day. So he thought he’d see about doing something about the cardboard.
What began as Clark’s cardboard recycling project turned into a nationally recognized employee-initiated recycling program processing more than 75,000 pounds of cardboard, glass, plastics, wood and metal in one year. The goal for 2011 is set at 115,000 pounds.
All of that recycling attracted some attention. LEPFA announced recently that
The Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities, or SERF, has certified The Lansing Center, making it the first convention center in the nation to attain such certification.
“Initially, [SERF was] simply excited about the small changes that had been going on for some time,” says LEPFA Marketing Manager Amanda Snook. “Once we started to show the depth of our program, that’s when they mentioned Lansing Center becoming a case study for the program.”
As a case study, the Lansing Center is now setting benchmarks in the industry for environmental stewardship. The Lansing City Market is also SERF certified, and the Cooley Law School Stadium will be reviewed this summer, both of which are LEPFA-managed properties.
“We continuously invest in this building and the community,” says Snook. “This certification only reaffirms that commitment.”
Source: Amanda Snook, LEPFA
Writer: Natalie Burg, News Editor
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