The Greening of the expo

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    Living Green Expo works hard to minimize the environmental impact from this event. Some of the specific actions it will take are:
    • Reducing waste: Waste is being greatly reduced at the event through aggressive recycling and food composting, thanks to Eureka Recycling, the event’s Minneapolis-based nonprofit recycling partner. The 2005 Expo, with an estimated 14,000 attendees, produced only about 195 pounds of trash, with 96 percent of discards diverted from disposal.
    • Offsetting carbon dioxide generation: Wind generated power will be purchased from a wind power provider, Native Energy, to offset carbon dioxide generated by the electricity used in the event hall. Wind power capacity purchased will offset two tons of CO2 emissions. Trees are being planted to offset the carbon dioxide emitted by those traveling to the event in private vehicles. 100 trees will be planted in the U.S. through the non-profit American Forests and 1,000 trees will be planted in Central America through Trees for the Future.
    • Paper and trees: More trees are being planted to offset the paper used for promotional and educational materials. Although the event organizers are using 100% post-consumer recycled paper (manufactured without the use of chlorine), it is estimated that event partners and exhibitors will use approximately 4.2 tons of paper representing about 50 trees. To offset this, 100 trees will be planted in the U.S. through American Forests and 100 trees will be planted in Central America through the organization Trees, Water and People.
    • Food waste acknowledged: To recognize food wasted at this event, a donation is being made to All Seasons Food Rescue, a local organization working to provide safe nutritious food for human consumption to those in need, while helping to reduce food waste in Minnesota. Attendees at the Expo are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to benefit Second Harvest Heartland.
    • Thinking about water use: To recognize water used at this event, a donation is being made to the WaterShed Partners, a coalition of organizations in the Twin Cities area that, through collaborative educational outreach, teaches residents how to care for area waters.
    • Rethinking vinyl banners: No vinyl banners were ordered for this year’s event. Instead of vinyl (which has a host of pollution issues associated with it), the Expo used recyclable Tyvek plastic, recycled polyethethylene fabric, recycled-content plastic board, and paper.

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