Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rock on!
Red Rocks Amphitheatre boasts 150 purple Denver recycling bins with plans to place permanent Red Rocks-themed containers at the venue. With the help of Alpine Recycling, the launch of a permanent recycling program at Red Rocks is another big step toward the Greenprint Denver goal of increasing the amount of material that is recycled citywide. Recycling bins are located at each entrance, and on the plaza, and will collect aluminum cans and plastic bottles from event attendees. The bins also collect cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum and steel cans, plastic bottles and glass from the behind-the-scenes operations at Red Rocks, including Ship Rock Grille, the Visitor Center and the Trading Post at the Colorado Welcome Center.
Arts and Venues Denver and Red Rocks Amphitheatre would like concert goers and park patrons to contribute to the city’s greening efforts by taking these small steps:
1. Recycle
Audience members are encouraged to sort their recycling and deposit it in the appropriate bin. Housekeeping staff will continue to sort and dispose of recycling found on the ground in both the venue and parking lots. The new recycling program at Red Rocks is expected to result in a 35% decrease in non-renewable waste leaving the venue.
2. Carpool
Help Red Rocks and the urban corridor stay green by limiting the number of vehicles traveling to the park and amphitheatre. Patrons who take turns carpooling to concerts with friends can save money on gas, relax in the backseat after a show, and help take care of the surrounding environment – not to mention cutting down on pre and post traffic jams!
3. Pack out trash and recyclables
Concertgoers, hikers and stair-runners who use the parking lots and trails at Red Rocks for tailgating, snacking or picnicking are asked to store personal waste in their vehicles, pockets or bags and dispose of it properly at home. Curbing litter in the park keeps Red Rocks clean and safe, and preserves the natural beauty of one of Colorado’s greatest sources of pride.
In addition to an effort to bring about awareness for recycling, carpooling and packing-out waste, Red Rocks Amphitheatre is working on several other environmentally-sound initiatives. Existing benches at the venue are currently being replaced with sustainable, renewable lumber, and an investigation into alternative energy sources is on-going. With the help of local concert promoters, Red Rocks Amphitheatre is thrilled to host concerts at the venue that already have a green component. Shows such as E. Town, which played Red Rocks in June, and the August 3 “Carved in Stone” concert, sponsored by Starbucks, have helped the venue examine its eco-practices and come up with creative conservation strategies.
Greenprint Denver (www.greenprintdenver.org) is a long-term, citywide initiative promoting the importance of sustainable development and ecologically-friendly practices throughout the community.
For questions or comments regarding Red Rocks Recycling program call 720-865-4222.
Powering with windsource
Red Rocks Amphitheatre Summer Concert Series is able to purchase renewable energy equivalent to 100% of their electricity use through the 2012 summer season. This purchase helps support renewable energy projects across Colorado. The Peetz Table wind farm in Logan County is the largest wind project in Colorado and the fifth largest in the country. With 267 1.5-megawatt turbines, it produces enough electricity to power 135,000 homes. Peetz Table also contributes significantly to the rural economy in Logan County. On an annual basis, the project spends approximately $3 million locally on operating costs and pays $2.6 million in property taxes. Landowners are compensated about $1.5 million annually and are still able to use their land for agricultural purposes.
With over 40,000 residential customers and nearly 1,000 businesses, Xcel Energy’s Windsource® program is the largest in the nation. If you would like to purchase renewable energy for your home or business call Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-4999 or visit www.xcelenergy.com/windsource.
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