We want to be a leader in sustainability. Saint Paul RiverCentre, in partnership with Xcel Energy Center, is rolling out an unprecedented campus-wide sustainability initiative. The collaborative effort, branded as “50-50 in 2,” will aim to reduce the amount of trash generated at Saint Paul RiverCentre, Xcel Energy Center, The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium and 317 On Rice Park by 50 percent while increasing the amount recycled by to 50 percent within the next two years.  

In April, Saint Paul RiverCentre officials announced a goal to become a regional leader in sustainability among convention centers. Once the assessment process began, it quickly became apparent that ALL of our campus facilities needed to be involved due to an abundance of shared resources. In partnership with Progressive Associates of Saint Paul, Minn., an ambitious, strategic plan was generated.  This September we began implementing our waste-reduction plan, the first of a multi-phased approach that will encompass several initiatives over the coming years.

   We are reducing our trash by 1.2 million pounds. “50-50 in 2” is a collaborative effort that includes Saint Paul RiverCentre, Xcel Energy Center, The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium, and 317 On Rice Park, to reduce the amount of trash produced by 50% (or 1.2 million pounds) and increase the amount we recycle to 50% within the next two years. We are able to do this because of key partnerships with the Saint Paul Convention & Visitors Authority and our food service providers: Wildside Caterers, Levy Restaurants and Centerplate.

   We are implementing a nearly 1:1 trash can to recycling bin ratio. The first thing fans and visitors will notice is that nearly every trash container on every level of each facility now has an accompanying recycling bin. Fans attending an Xcel Energy Center event will now be able to recycle paper, such as newspapers and game programs sometimes discarded after events.

   We are adding compost to the campus. Guests of Saint Paul RiverCentre will be among the first in the country to participate in composting at a convention center.  Composting is being integrated into all campus kitchens and concessions as part of the phased approach. Composting will be added to public areas at Xcel Energy Center in the future.

   We have been recycling for some time, but we wanted to do more. Green practices aren’t new to us; recycling, energy efficiency and water conservation have been priorities for some time. However, we wanted to explore ways to do more, do better, and pursue additional opportunities for waste reduction. With guidance from Progressive Associates, we were able to capture an accurate picture of our waste stream, address opportunities for improvement, and map out a plan to reach our sustainability goals.

   We’re not done yet. This is the first step. Educating our guests is a big component of this initiative and your participation is imperative to our success. We chose to focus on waste reduction first because it was the biggest challenge to tackle. In Phase Two, we’ll focus on green purchasing and general energy efficiency, where we already have a head start. By choosing green, we hope to help drive the demand for recycled materials.

Caring for our environment is not just good business; it’s good for all of us.  We are passionate about creating the best experience imaginable for you, and that includes providing a setting that is a model for sustainable practices.  Furthermore, these initiatives will benefit our entire community.

Keep an eye on us. Check back for updates. We’ll be producing quarterly reports and posting our progress here, as well as announcing when we’ve launched a new phase of our plan.