Great American Beer Festival

Each year the GABF makes every attempt to lessen its impact through innovative sustainability programs. 2012 will mark the fifth year of sustainability initiatives. We continue to realize strategies that lower the environmental impact though waste reduction, resource recovery, energy use and education. Our partnerships with ZeroHero, Colorado Convention Center, Centerplate Catering, Governors Energy Office, and the Colorado Carbon Fund, we aim to continue efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. Program components include: The standard for a zero-waste event is 85% of the waste diverted away from the landfill. In 2011 we diverted 79% of the event waste away from the landfill. Learning from last year and with program improvements in 2012, our goal is to divert 80% of waste at the 2012 GABF. In 2011, we offset 33.70 metric tons of CO2 emissions through partnership with Colorado Carbon Fund and the Climate Trust. We continue with this partnership in 2012. Disposable items at GABF will be recyclable or compostable. We will again use compostable water cups, plates and utensils. As always, your beer glass is reusable, and we hope you will use it for many years to come. YOU, the attendee can help "green" the GABF. Please help us by putting 'waste in its place' and visiting the ZeroHero tents located throughout the festival to recycle or compost your waste. A friendly volunteer will greet you to help determine what goes where. In order to reduce waste, we encourage you to reuse your GABF beer glass in between tastings at one of the many water stations located throughout the festival. If you have to use one of the cups provided at the water station, make sure it ends up in the compost when you are finished. All glass and plastic bottles, cans, paper and cardboard will be recycled. Comprehensive pre and post festival recycling program The use of styrofoam at food outlets in the event has been banned. Bulk condiments will be used at concession areas. All compost will be processed by A1 Organics located in Platteville, CO. This is a permitted commercial composting facility and will mix GABF compost with other food waste, animal waste, yard waste and wood chips. Within 90 days this compost will become a rich soil amendment. GABF will be part of the Green Meetings Industry Council's goal to divert one million tons of trash from the landfill.