DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The Fashion District BID's recycling program was recently honored with a sustainability award at the International Downtown Association's 2008 annual conference. This spring, the Fashion District teamed up with the City of Los Angeles to try and find a solution for the various types of waste generated in the district. Over nineteen tons of recyclables are now picked up weekly.

The program, run by Etec, LLC, launched covered only ten blocks. It was later expanded to serve a wider area, and to include flower cuttings and green waste from the Flower Markets. The goal is to expand the program to serve the entire BID.

The Merit Award in Sustainable Development was presented on September 13, at the IDA's conference held in Calgary.

Downtown's wholesale districts have long struggled with the amount of trash they generate. Fashion District BID head Kent Smith hopes their program can serve as a model for others. "We are thrilled to be honored with this award,” Smith said in a press release. "We are extremely proud of our recycling program and hope that its success can help inspire other BIDs and Downtowns around the country."