News Release
December 1, 2008

Contact: David Blandford
Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau
(206) 461-5806 / dblandford@visitseattle.org

CONVENTION CENTER OFFERS NATION’S FIRST 100 PERCENT BIODEGRADABLE WATER BOTTLES
Services and Products for Convention Center Clients are Green and Growing

SEATTLE – The Washington State Convention & Trade Center (WSCTC) in downtown Seattle announced today the availability of the nation’s first completely biodegradable water bottles available for convention center clients.

The center's new, six and 12 ounce water bottles are made with plastics that undergo a two-step degradation process known as oxo-biodegradation which allows the entire bottle, cap, label and contents to fully recycle, biodegrade and compost. By contrast, traditional petroleumbased resin water bottles take up to 5,000 years to decompose.

Traditional water coolers and other options will continue to be available, offering expanded green services and products and flexibility to convention center clients.

"The new compostable bottles will be very popular with convention and exhibition groups," said Michael T. McQuade, Director, Sales & Marketing of the WSCTC. "Our clients continually ask for more and better green meeting options and we are dedicated to that cause."

During the past 20 years, the Washington State Convention & Trade Center has demonstrated an industry-leading commitment to recycle, reduce and reuse. In addition to compostable water bottles, the WSCTC offers its convention clients 100 percent compostable drinking and coffee cups, bamboo plates and birch or bamboo cutlery. Last year, the convention center recycled 174 tons of cardboard, 186 tons of mixed paper, plastic and glass, 2,460 pounds of aluminum cans and 12 tons of scrap metal.

The Washington State Recycling Association presented the WSCTC with the 2008 Recycler of the Year Award – Public Agency. The award is given to a public agency that “leads by example, creating programs that effectively increase recycling and waste diversion.” In 2007, the WSCTC was presented with the International Association of Congress Centres' (AIPC) Innovation Award. Competing against meeting facilities in 16 countries, the center received this prestigious award for making its catering and extensive use of local food and beverage products in a highly successful sales outreach program. The WSCTC incorporates composting into its daily catering production and retains the services of Cedar Grove Composting, the largest single dedicated yard waste composting facility in the United States and the only one to offer its compost-based soils for sale. Cedar Grove transforms food waste, wood waste and other matter into nutrient-rich compost that has attracted a loyal customer base in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The company also composts the WSCTC's three acres of outdoor gardens.

Recent WSCTC renovation projects have included the installation of more efficient lighting fixtures and more efficient heating and cooling throughout the building. The center is currently undertaking the necessary efforts to achieve LEED – Existing Building Certification.

About the Washington State Convention & Trade Center
The Washington State Convention & Trade Center, the largest meeting and event facility in Washington State, is a public corporation established in 1982 to provide economic and civic benefits for the people of Washington.

About Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau
Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau is a non-profit economic development agency responsible for competitively marketing Seattle as a destination for meeting and convention groups and leisure travelers. Some 9.5 million visitors spend more than $5 billion in Seattle and King County annually, contributing $468 million in state and local tax revenues. Direct visitor spending benefits hotels, retailers, restaurants, attractions, transportation services and other businesses and supports jobs for more than 63,000 people in the Seattle region.

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Updated: 12/08