Recycling, Solar Power,
River Restoration

The Del Mar Fairgrounds is dedicated to the environment in which we live and work. The 22nd District Agricultural Association's mission statement confirms our emphasis on managing the facility in an environmentally conscientious manner, and our long-term lessees, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Premier Food Services, work with us to reduce our waste on a year-round basis.

Recycling

The program began in 1985 with an office-paper recycling program. Now, the 22nd DAA recycles, participates in the communities Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) Program, recycles or sends to compost over 93 percent of our solid waste stream with the help of our contractors and lessees. This puts us well above the waste reduction requirements of AB 75 that requires state agencies to divert 50 percent of their solid waste, and saved us more than $1.6 million in 2007 alone.

The 22nd DAA has won 17 awards for its Resource Conservation Program. These include the National Recycling Coalition’s Tim McClure Award for Outstanding Environmental & Community Leadership and the Western Fairs Association coveted “Merrill Award for Superior Achievement” for the 2005 San Diego County Fair Recycling and Resource Conservation Programs.

Among its environmental activities and accomplishments, the 22nd DAA:

• uses reclaimed water for grounds irrigation, which preserves 75 acre-feet of potable water for drinking on an annual basis;
• has reduced its impact on local sewer systems by keeping food out of sinks and completely removing garbage disposals, saving $45,000 annually on sewer rates;
• has worked with local communities and non-profit organizations to bring household hazardous waste collection events and a home compost bin sale to the Fairgrounds for the benefit of the community;
• has reduced average energy consumption by 15 percent thus far. A one-megawatt solar array on the Fairgrounds saves energy usage on the grid, which represents approximately 20 percent of the Fairgrounds annual electric costs; and
• has created the free, annual Enviro Fair, which is an attraction of the San Diego County Fair. This exhibition and comprehensive seminar highlights environmental challenges, advances in renewable resources, conservation and recycling, environmentally friendly products, and business and consumer conservation services available in San Diego County.

We appreciate our visitors' efforts to help us reduce the waste going to landfills by recycling clean paper, cans and bottles in the recycling containers provided throughout the Fairgrounds.

For more information contact Nancy Strauss, Resource Conservation Coordinator, (858) 792-4298.

Solar Powered

In 2003 the Fairgrounds embarked on a solar-power program to reduce its dependence on traditional sources of energy.

The Fairgrounds has a one-megawatt system, with 9,700 individual panels installed on the roofs of 11 barns. The estimated cost of the system and installation was $4.8 million.

The one-megawatt system produces around 1,760,000 kWh per year and saves the Fairgrounds an estimated $250,000 — about 19 percent of our total bill. By comparison, the average consumption allowed for a home in San Diego is 6,000 KWh per year. Our system could supply 294 homes all their power needs for one year.

River valley restoration

The Fairgrounds sits at the mouth of the San Dieguito River, which stretches more than 50 miles from its source near Julian. Along the river is the San Dieguito River Park, of which the main feature is the creation of a 55-mile hiking trail called the Coast to Crest Trail.

The trail begins on Fairgrounds property south of Jimmy Durante Boulevard. The Del Mar Fairgrounds is also working with the San Dieguito River Park to continue the trail through the Horsepark property as well. The Coast to Crest Trail is the jewel of San Diego County for hikers of all ages and the Del Mar Fairgrounds is proud to be involved with this project.

The Fairgrounds is assisting the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy in restoring 1.15 acres along the north side of the San Dieguito River, where many non-native plants now exist. The project aims to replace all non-native plants with native species. Volunteers will carry out most of the work, with assistance from the Fairgrounds for heavy equipment needs. In addition, within the next nine months, the Fairgrounds will be restoring approximately three acres of salt marsh in the area adjacent to the SDRVC’s restoration.

For more information on the project, please see the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy Web site, www.sdrvc.org, or the San Dieguito River Park Web site, www.sdrp.org/trails.htm.