While certain traditions and staples of the first Calgary Stampede, held in 1912, have remained (think cowboys and a rodeo), the greatest outdoor show on earth has undergone significant changes, as one would expect in a 97-year period. In fact, with attendance now topping over 100,000 people each day and the park more than double the size of the 94-acre fair grounds the first Stampede was held on, Guy Weadick's wild west show would be unrecognizable to anyone who attended the initial Frontier Days and Cowboy Championship Contest (the original name bestowed on the festivities).

However if you were to go beyond the rodeo, the rides, the games and the multiple food stands, you would soon discover that these days Stampede organizers are working hard to minimize the environmental impact of the celebration. No one will deny that there's a definite footprint attached to so many visitors descending on one city at one time, whether they're arriving by planes, trains or automobiles. That being said, this isn't exactly a party you can experience by teleconference (the Ferris wheel just isn't the same), so attracting an audience from all over the world isn't unexpected.

This makes it especially important to ensure that all environmental initiatives extend throughout the entire year, not just the 10 days the Stampede is happening. Recently some Ecollo-ites had the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Stampede grounds, where environmental coordinator Cori Thiessen took time to explain some of the programs and initiatives the organization is working on to create a greener future for the show.

Recycling and waste management
For starters, recycling on the grounds is emphasized among Stampede employees, with seven major recycling centres set up on-site, which collect common recycling materials including paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, aluminum, batteries, coffee grounds, organics, grease and cooking oil. Beyond this, other materials are repurposed, including asphalt which is ground and recycled, and wood which is turned into mulch chips for gardening. One of the major components of any stampede is of course animals. Even their waste finds new life, with bedding waste collected and sent to a local composting company, who turns it into garden fertilizer.

Any hazardous waste collected is sealed and stored, then safely and properly disposed of, with special measures being taken to ensure none ends up affecting the city's water supply or sewage system.

Technology
The measures taken to incorporate energy-efficient technology and practices run the gamut, from using LED street lights (which save 730 kWHs and 657 kg of carbon annually) to a "Turn It Off" program, which encourages staff members to pay attention to their electricity-consumption habits and shut down their computers, monitors and personal devices prior to leaving the office each night. It may sound easy, but the simple efficient practice of turning off the 350 computer terminals on-site results in a savings of more than 900,000 kWHs each year.

Thousands of liters of water are conserved annually thanks to five dual-flush toilets and two waterless urinals housed in the Operations building, as well as 10 waterless urinals in the Grandstand area and another four in Indian Village. In the future, older units will be replaced with water-efficient ones when possible.

As for the items that actually do end up in the trash, they end up in one of the six solar-powered trash compacters located on-site. These eco-friendly compactors not only run entirely on solar energy, they also reduce the amount of collection trips needed, as well as greenhouse gas emissions associated with trash collection.

Transportation
Whenever possible, park vehicles run on biodiesel, ranging from five to 35%. The fleet of vehicles used on-site recently underwent a re-sizing to minimize the size of vehicles used. Any vehicles with V-8 engines were switched over for a smaller V-6, however during the warmer season, light vehicles including golf carts are used as a means of transportation around the park. Additionally, no vehicles older than eight years old are used for business purposes and the park adheres to strict anti-idling policies.

The aforementioned operational practices and policies go a long way toward demonstrating the commitment of Calgary Stampede organizers to looking out for the earth, but they are by no means all-inclusive. Check back Monday to learn how the actual environment around the Stampede grounds is protected and conserved, and then again next Wednesday to learn how the Stampede encourages eco-friendliness during the actual 10-day event in July.

» Calgary Stampede (Official Site)