Los Angeles Convention Center Donates Excess Event Materials

Venue partners with local nonprofit to repurpose wood waste for fire recovery efforts

Mar. 12, 2026 at 7:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Los Angeles Convention Center recently donated around 8,000 pounds of excess wood from a convention to the ANE Foundation, which will use the materials to help rebuild homes damaged in the Eaton Fire. The venue worked with event organizers to divert the waste from landfills and instead support the local community's recovery efforts.

Why it matters

This initiative highlights how event venues can go beyond basic sustainability practices to find creative ways to turn waste into community support. By partnering with local nonprofits, the Los Angeles Convention Center was able to give the excess materials a meaningful second life rather than sending them to a landfill.

The details

During a recent convention at the Los Angeles Convention Center, about four tons (8,000 pounds) of excess wood from exhibit booth construction was generated - around 60% more than the venue's average event. Rather than disposing of the materials, the convention center worked with the event organizers to donate the wood to the ANE Foundation. The nonprofit is distributing the reclaimed wood to help rebuild temporary walls, fences, and cover exposed pipes at homes damaged in the Eaton Fire that destroyed over 9,000 buildings in Altadena, California in January 2025.

  • The Eaton Fire occurred in January 2025, destroying over 9,000 buildings in Altadena, California.
  • The recent convention that generated the excess wood took place in early 2026.

The players

Los Angeles Convention Center

A major convention and event venue in Los Angeles, California.

ANE Foundation

A local nonprofit organization in Altadena, California that is distributing the donated wood to support rebuilding efforts after the Eaton Fire.

Enjoli Ferrari

The senior sustainability manager at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“With such a significant amount of excess wood, we should explore opportunities to donate these materials so they can be repurposed and benefit the community. The donation highlights how collaboration between event organizers, venues, and local nonprofits can turn waste into meaningful community support—proving that sustainability efforts can extend far beyond environmental impact to helping people rebuild their lives.”

— Enjoli Ferrari, Senior Sustainability Manager, Los Angeles Convention Center (bizbash.com)

What’s next

The Los Angeles Convention Center plans to continue exploring opportunities to donate excess materials from events to local community organizations in need.

The takeaway

This initiative by the Los Angeles Convention Center demonstrates how event venues can go beyond basic recycling and waste reduction to find creative ways to positively impact their local communities, turning what would otherwise be waste into meaningful support for rebuilding efforts and other causes.