Is The Greenest DNC Working?
The Democratic National Convention Committee touted the 2008 Convention as being the “most environmentally sustainable political convention in modern American history”. Indeed, the DNCC has drawn press for its efforts, namely the initial ban on fried foods, now overturned. But are these efforts actually working?
From infrastructure to energy to food, the DNCC has been fairly thoughtful about the environmental impact of the resources they’ll be using during the convention. You can read about the DNCC’s efforts in The Democrats Promise “The Greenest Convention Ever” or in the posts listed below.
When it comes to solid waste the DNCC is ambitiously attempting to divert, at minimum, 85% of solid waste away from the landfill through both composting and recycling. Recycling bins and “tents” have been set up throughout convention areas. Signs and banners are made from recycled materials, and groups giving out swag are encouraged to give out recycled-content or lower-impact items to convention attendees.
So how much of this is coming to fruition? The St Louis Post Dispatch’s Political Fix blog observed that specially-made recycling/composting “tents” were not being used as intended. Eric Mack at Plenty Magazine’s The Current, observed the same thing. As the Convention progresses, I’m sure we’ll hear more from green bloggers and delegates as to whether or not these extensive efforts are the real deal or just seemed better in planning than in practice.
Related Posts
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The Democrats Promise “The Greenest Convention Ever”
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“Dems Red-Faced over Green Menu Minutiae”
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“Dems Aim to Leave Green Legacy in Denver”
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“My Party’s Convention is Greeer than Yours”
