THE National Exhibition Centre is to recycle half its waste in a drive to go greener.
A new 17,000 sq metre recycling operation at the Bickenhill site will be launched in October, employing six full-time staff seven days a week.
A former catering production unit is being revamped into the specialist facility at a cost of £300,000 to recycle waste and further reduce the NEC's carbon footprint.
This year the NEC Group has set a target of 50 per cent of all exhibition waste being recyled as part of its commitment to the environment.
Kathryn James, NEC managing director, said: "As Europe's busiest exhibition centre, we believe we have a responsibility to our customers, our visitors, our people, our communities and our region to be environmentally-conscious.
"One of our key objectives is to reduce our environmental impact and carbon footprint.
"Last year 3,000 tonnes of exhibition waste were produced on site and we recycled 15 per cent of this. The first year target on this centre is to recycle half of all waste and this specially adapted facility and dedicated staff will ensure we meet it."
The NEC Group is also exploring the option of creating a bio-mass electricity generating plant on site that would produce enough electricity to run the complex.
The NEC board approved a new energy management policy in 2007, pledging that the group would continue to invest in energy-efficient schemes over the next 40 years.
