The simplest ideas are the best ideas. Necessity is the mother invention. Whatever clichéd phrase comes to mind the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center have created a new “green” paradox: recycling to recycle.

Two years ago the convention implemented its “Going Green In Action” policy, a venue-wide program of environmentally sustainable practice. Unfortunately, the recycling portion of the program could not be completely implemented because the region’s recycling centers where the trash has to be hauled to be recycled, were still not fully operational in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This Summer, recycling is again fully functional, and the Morial needed recycling bins. Instead of purchasing new ones—and disposing of 200 non-biodegradable (and perfectly fine receptacles) fiberglass trash cans—enterprising Convention Center employees came up with a simple yet innovative idea during a “green” brainstorming session. They suggested that the Convention Center’s existing trashcans could be sanded down and repainted; the lids could be cut down and slots or holes could be cut into the top. Lead by Adrian Faciane, the Convention Center’s Environmental Services Manager, Operations staff members Joe DiLosa and Anthony Cadogan went to work sanding and cutting, then painters Elaine Thompson and Reynold Ray spent days spray painting the cans a bright yellow-green hue. The color—a bright yellow-green—was selected to complement the building’s fresh new palette of colors reflected in the carpet and other interiors. Talk about a Big Easy! The New Orleans Morial Convention Center had re-purposed the 25-year old trash cans into 21st century Recycling Bins. The bins bear the “Forever Green” logo, representing New Orleans’s citywide recycling initiative.

Besides reducing impact on the environment, Convention Center officials are enthusiastic about the cost savings. “New recycling containers are not cheap; if we had to buy them today they would cost nearly $500 each,” said Paul O’Connell, Assistant Director of Production and Technology Services. “By re-purposing the old trash cans as recycling bins, we saved $103,000. Not to mention the space they would be taking up in a landfill because fiberglass does not decompose.”

Although the repurposed receptacles was both a practical and clever plan, the New Orleans Morial Convention Center continues to strive to live up the Going Green In Action program. O’Connell added that the Convention Center is currently working on several other green initiatives: by the end of July, the Center will replace 6,000 casino-style lights with LED lights, which are 88 percent more energy efficient than the current incandescent lamps.  Later this summer, LCD electronic signage will be installed outside of every meeting room, reducing the need for foam-core board signs and easels.