The Democratic Convention will be held August 25-28 in Denver CO. The convention hired its first-ever Director of Greening, Andrea Robinson, to ensure this would be "the most sustainable political convention in modern American history."
According to the Wall Street Journal, some of Robinson's sustainability initiatives include:
- Reuse, recycle or compost at least 85% of all waste generated during the convention (and a "trash brigade" to make sure it happens)
- Celebratory balloons will hopefully be biodegradable (although early tests show they aren't degrading in a compost heap)
- Hired an Official Carbon Adviser, who will measure the greenhouse-gas emissions of every placard, every plane trip, every appetizer prepared and every coffee cup tossed
- No fried food and at least 70% of ingredients should be organic or grown locally
- At least 50% fresh fruits and vegetables in each meal
- Compostable utensils
- Biofuel made from (Coors Brewing Co.) beer waste to power the convention's fleet of flex-fuel vehicles
- Fanny packs made in the USA of undyed, organic fabric
- Banners made from canvas or corn-based bioplastics and recycled afterwards into handbags
- 1000 bicycles for free use provided by Humana and Bikes Belong
- The stage is built with salvaged plywood and other recycled or reused materials
- The podium is finished with eco-friendly paints and soy-based sealants
- Solar and wind energy will be used to partly power the event
- All signs and placards made from post-consumer recycled or biodegradable materials and recycled afterwards
- 160 miles of cable laid for the convention will be recycled afterwards
- Lightbulbs have been replaced with energy-efficient models
- Water spigots have been retrofitted with water-saving models
- Water filling stations will be installed to refill empty water bottles
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