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Hospitality leader expands sustainability initiatives by shifting to biodegradable options for all disposable food service items

Orlando, FL /PRNewswire/ -- Centerplate, the hospitality partner to North America's premier convention centers and sports stadiums, announced today the introduction of a 100 percent biodegradable food service solution for the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida. Under the new program, all of the facility's disposable food service items -- from cups to flatware to napkins -- will be 100 percent biodegradable, dramatically reducing the environmental impact of the site's menu operations. The biodegradable products are currently being phased in to the OCCC's operations with a targeted completion date of January 2010 for all of the new items to be fully implemented.

The program underscores Centerplate's expertise in implementing environmentally conscious food service solutions at major venues across North America including the Dallas Convention Center, Folsom Field at the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Vancouver Convention Centre in Canada and the San Diego Convention Center. For the OCCC, the biodegradable program amplifies the venue's standing as one of the most environmentally sound convention centers in the nation and follows its achievement in 2007 of the elite ISO 14001:2004 certification, an international environmental standard which helps organizations limit the negative impact of their operations on the environment. Further contributing to the OCCC's overall 'Orange to Green' program, Centerplate recycled more than 270,000 gallons of grease solids and used cooking oil last year and also recovered 33 percent of the facility's food and beverage waste to be used for recycling.

"When the nation's second largest convention center operation commits to this level of change, the benefits to the overall environment and to the health of the immediate community are substantial," said George Wooten, executive vice president of operations at Centerplate. "As part of our commitment to becoming the number one in hospitality and a leader in sustainability, we intend to extend this biodegradable food service solution to all our clients."

"Centerplate is a key partner in the Orange County Convention Center's 'Orange to Green' program," said Kathie Canning, OCCC deputy general manager.

Among the new biodegradable products being introduced are cutlery made from cornstarch; clear colored, corn-based cups; plates and bowls made from sugarcane fiber; and hot cups that are lined with plant-based plastic. As part of the 'Center of Excellence' structure, Centerplate is currently evaluating suppliers with the goal of integrating a biodegradable solution across all of its clients' venues. The Center of Excellence is a company-wide platform leveraging the firm's deep foodservice and concessions expertise, designed to speed creation and roll-out of customized environmentally conscious programs.

In addition to its work in Florida, Centerplate also recently integrated a completely biodegradable foodservice program at the Dallas Convention Center. At the Vancouver Convention Centre, Centerplate uses cutlery, china, glass and cloth napkins for more than 95% of the food service functions and recycles, on average, 180,000 kilograms of materials annually, which is nearly half of the total volume of waste generated. And with Centerplate's assistance, the San Diego Convention Center recycled nearly 28 percent of their total waste in 2008 and collects cooking oil, which is recycled into biodiesel fuel.

About Centerplate
Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in more than 140 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America. Centerplate has provided services to 11 Super Bowls, 19 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, over 100 major College Bowl Games and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

SOURCE Centerplate

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