CHICAGO — Happy Earth Day 2026! It’s time to reflect on the wonder and beauty of our home planet, and think about how we can help protect it.
We checked in with four major convention centers to learn about their new sustainability strategies, which are making events more eco-friendly by the day.
1. Javits Center is launching a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capable of generating 3.5 megawatts, ensuring consistent access to power regardless of conditions like cloudy days that can impact solar production.
“Building on approximately 10% of our energy already generated by on-site solar panels, BESS will enhance our ability to store and deploy energy more efficiently, reduce monthly utility costs and strengthen our independence from the grid,” Javits Center Director of Energy & Sustainability Yashi Dadhich said. “BESS is the first of its kind in the tristate area and demonstrates Javits Center’s drive to break the mold of what sustainability looks like at a convention center.”
2. The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, which is managed by Legends Global, strengthened its food recovery program in alignment with California’s SB 1383 regulations, ensuring surplus food from events can be safely collected and donated through approved local partners without adding complexity for organizers.
“We’ve focused on implementing sustainability practices that are both operationally reliable and easy for event organizers to plug into,” John Fort, the venue’s Health, Safety & Sustainability Manager, said.
Also, the convention center has reduced single-use plastics where feasible and maintained robust diversion programs, including cardboard baling, scrap-metal recovery and e-waste recycling. During recent infrastructure upgrades, it diverted over 222 tons of material from landfill through recycling efforts.
For organizers, this means access to a venue that has established systems for waste diversion and sustainable sourcing, including the use of post-consumer recycled and certified materials — which can help an organizer reach their sustainability goals without needing additional vendors or logistics.
3. The Baltimore Convention Center served as a sensor site host for the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative in partnership with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
“This project focused on monitoring air quality in South Baltimore, contributing data on pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon dioxide and ozone, while helping raise awareness around the connection between environmental conditions and public health,” Tyler Debella, Director of Operations at the Baltimore Convention Center, said. “The initiative concluded in March 2026.”
4. The Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) continues to advance its sustainability efforts through a combination of operational practices and environmentally conscious infrastructure.
Key initiatives include composting and food waste diversion programs in partnership with its food and beverage provider, and food donation programs supporting local organizations.
“The venue also incorporates energy-efficient systems such as LED lighting, occupancy sensors and a building design that maximizes natural daylight, reducing overall energy consumption by approximately 20%,” Ariane Hiltebrand, Director of Sales & Marketing at the MBCC, said. “Water-saving fixtures further support conservation efforts, reducing water usage across the facility. In addition, MBCC is part of a broader campus transformation that replaced more than six acres of asphalt with green space … contributing to a reduced heat island effect and improved stormwater management.”
Related. 2026 Sustainability Strategies
5. This fiscal year marked a record number of donations for JavitsCares, the venue’s donation program.
Almost 200 tons of items left behind by exhibitors were donated to organizations like the 911 Cell Phone Bank and Material for the Arts to benefit local families and the community at large.
“Events such as BDNY, NRF Retail’s Big Show and Toy Fair fully embraced the program — making significant strides in improving their waste diversion rate thanks in large part to donation efforts,” Dadhich said. “We also saw meaningful contributions through food donations at the Summer Fancy Food Show and large-scale material recovery, like the approximately 35,000 hangers donated following the TCS New York City Marathon Expo. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our cleaning teams, whose efforts ensure these initiatives succeed at scale.”
6. The Long Beach Convention Center enhanced how it manages and tracks energy across its campus.
“With the addition of our rooftop solar system and battery storage, we’re able to reduce peak energy demand and operate more efficiently during large-scale events, supporting both sustainability goals and overall event performance,” Fort said.
7. Recent events at the MBCC have incorporated enhanced sustainability measures through collaboration with organizers and external sustainability consultants.
“For example, events such as the Cisco Partner Summit and the College Football Playoff FanFest implemented zero waste initiatives, including additional manual waste sorting and expanded waste diversion efforts,” Hiltebrand explained. “These approaches helped strengthen recycling and composting outcomes while supporting broader waste reduction goals, demonstrating how MBCC can partner with event organizers to elevate sustainability performance on a per-event basis.”
8. The Baltimore Convention Center is working to implement TerraCycle receptacles across its campus while phasing out traditional cigarette urns around the building’s perimeter.
“Through the TerraCycle program, collected cigarette butts are cleaned and separated into recycled plastic that can be repurposed into products such as art, retail displays, furniture and accessories,” Ethan Lang, Director of Facilities and Engineering at the Baltimore Convention Center, said. “Following a successful pilot in 2025, the venue plans to expand the program with the installation of 12 additional units in 2026.”
At TSE, we believe in celebrating sustainability all year round. In this spirit, we will be publishing expanded Q&As with the professionals from this article, and even more sustainability spotlights, soon.
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Featured Photo Credit: Courtesy of Javits Center
