HSR Zero Waste Wins Clean50 Top Project Award for Convention Centre Waste Transformation

The Convention Centre Zero Waste Transformation Project by HSR Zero Waste has been recognized with the 2026 Clean50 Top Project Award, honoring outstanding sustainability initiatives that drive measurable environmental impact across Canada. The Clean50 Awards, presented annually by Delta Management Group, celebrate individuals and organizations making significant contributions to climate action, clean innovation, and a net-zero future.

HSR Zero Waste's award-winning project demonstrates the potential of circular systems in large-scale operations. Through collaboration with event organizers, facility teams, and stakeholders, the Convention Centre Zero Waste Transformation Project introduced a comprehensive waste diversion and resource recovery model that diverted over one million kilograms of material in a single year. This achievement represents a significant advancement in sustainable event management practices for large venues.

The initiative involved redesigning waste flows, reconfiguring existing equipment, and implementing hands-on sorting programs and staff training. These comprehensive measures raised the Vancouver Convention Centre's diversion rate from 50% to between 75-90% in 2024, substantially reducing landfill waste while advancing circular economy principles. The project showcases how strategic waste management can transform operational sustainability in major facilities.

Gavin Pitchford, CEO of Delta Management Group, emphasized that Canada's Clean50 Top Project Awards recognize the best sustainability-oriented projects completed in Canada over the past two years. Projects are chosen based on their measurable impact, innovation, and ability to inspire others to replicate their success. The Convention Centre Zero Waste Transformation project by Happy Stan's Recycling Services exemplifies these criteria through its substantial environmental achievements.

HSR Zero Waste's founders, Stan and Della Kaminski, represented the company at the Clean50 Summit in Toronto, where more than 160 Clean50 Honourees from across Canada gathered to exchange ideas, celebrate achievements, and discuss the future of climate leadership. The summit fosters cross-sector learning and collaboration, driving climate action across diverse industries. Learn more about the Convention Centre Zero Waste Transformation Project on the Clean50 website at https://www.clean50.com, and view the full list of 2026 Clean50 honourees at https://www.clean50.com.

This recognition highlights the growing importance of waste management innovation in achieving broader environmental goals. The project's success demonstrates that significant waste reduction is achievable in large-scale operations through systematic approaches and stakeholder collaboration. The increased diversion rates at the Vancouver Convention Centre set a new standard for sustainable operations in the events and hospitality industry, potentially influencing similar facilities nationwide to adopt comparable waste transformation strategies.