UBS Arena Awarded TRUE Silver Certification by Green Business Certification Inc. for Zero Waste Efforts

Waste affects every part of our communities and effective waste management strategies are critical to ensuring both public and environmental health.

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): UBS Arena has been awarded Silver certification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) rating system. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities measure, improve and recognize zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices, which contribute to positive environmental, health and economic outcomes. The arena is also announcing in conjunction with this certification their first zero waste partner, Collins Building Services.

“Sustainability is at the forefront of all we do at UBS Arena and we are proud to say that the venue is a certified zero waste facility,” said Michael Sciortino, General Manager of UBS Arena. “To achieve this TRUE certification at a Silver level is a testament to a couple years of hard work by our team. And in the end, our staff and our guests working together to help us make a positive impact on our environment. We also want to thank Collins Building Services for joining us in our industry leading sustainability efforts by becoming our first official zero waste partner.”

This zero waste certification supports UBS Arena’s sustainability commitments through their Sustainable Brilliance, Community Resilience framework announced in November 2023.  The building shifted its waste operations from a fan facing perspective by eliminating single use landfill-bound items and introducing new signage at each waste receptacle  that showcases graphics that match exactly what is provided at the arena and each items’ corresponding waste stream, while also creating a Zero Waste Pocket Guide that is available via UBSArena.com/sustainability and throughout the venue by scanning QR codes found throughout the campus. The venue also made investments in time, staff and space to create a zero waste workroom on site to assist in the sorting of all materials. Additional UBS Arena partners playing an integral part in obtaining this TRUE Silver certification include Delaware North and Winters Bros.

In the year needed to collect all necessary data to become a TRUE certified project, the arena maintained a diversion of waste to landfill rate of over 95%. More than 1,550,000 lbs. were composted and recycled from the arena, the equivalent of over 4 million NHL regulation hockey pucks, which helped avoid 300 metric tons of CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere. Through reuse and donation, the building avoided 14.2 metric tons of CO2 emission, the equivalent to driving a car between UBS Arena and Times Square 2,000 times, by reusing or donating 55,000 lbs. of waste.

“Collins Building Services was excited to embrace the opportunity to partner with UBS Arena and together drive our zero waste efforts,” said Ken Collins, President Collins Building Services. “The CBS Zero Waste team works tirelessly behind the scenes of every event to achieve our sustainability goals. They are true heroes. We congratulate everyone who came together to make this possible to help nurture and replenish our world.”

Waste affects every part of our communities and effective waste management strategies are critical to ensuring both public and environmental health. By pursuing TRUE certification, UBS Arena demonstrates a commitment to sustainability leadership by shifting to circular thinking and prioritizing processes, operations and actions to reduce waste and resources throughout their system lifecycle. UBS Arena is committed to creating a cleaner and healthier space for future generations through waste reduction and elimination efforts.

“Zero waste is a powerful part of any company’s sustainability strategy,” said Peter Templeton, President and CEO of U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. “Through their TRUE certification, UBS Arena enhances their operations in a way that maximizes the lifecycle of every product to promote a fully circular economy.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com

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