The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), which is a LEED® Gold certified facility, marked Earth Day 2022 by announcing a ban on single-use plastic bottles throughout the facility.
Levy Restaurants, the LACC’s exclusive food and beverage partner, has replaced single-use plastic bottles with aluminum bottles in cafés and catering operations. Beverages sold in the Center’s vending machines have followed suit.
“As an environmentally responsible facility, this was an obvious next step,” said Ellen Schwartz, general manager of the LACC. “The long-term cost of single-use plastic to our environment was something we could no longer ignore.”
Mayor Eric Garcetti, who has made it a goal to eliminate plastic bottles throughout city-owned facilities, praised the move. “The climate crisis demands that we take bold action now to fight climate change, and phasing out plastic bottles at the Convention Center is an important step we can take to meet our goals,” he said. “I applaud the Convention Center for making this change, and look forward to continuing the push to make our City spaces a model for sustainable economic growth.”
In addition to reducing plastic pollution, the newly introduced aluminum bottles are easily refillable from one of the 21 hydration stations on-site. To date, these water refilling stations have saved an estimated 150,000 plastic bottles.
Recently, the LACC teamed up with the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) to more clearly identify these water refilling stations. “Fill Up Here” signs have been added to each hydration station to encourage guests to take advantage of the city’s clean/safe water supply.
“Hydration stations provide access to the most reliable, cleanest, and safest drinking water there is, and without plastic pollution,” said Nancy Sutley, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager of External and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer. “We urge Angelenos to fill up reusable water bottles with confidence knowing your tap water meets all state and federal drinking water standards. So, fill up! This drink is on us!”
LADWP is expanding access to clean, drinking water by supporting the installation or refurbishment of at least 200 drinking water stations citywide by the end of 2022 and beyond. lacclink.com
