Wanna charge your phone? Run on a hamster wheel!
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EUGENE, Ore. -- Organizers of the Olympic Track Trials in partnership with Track Town USA have created several sustainability and "green" initiatives for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials.
It's part of the "We Can" campaign, aiming for 75 percent of all waste to be sent to places other than the landfill. "All of the things being sold and provided to fans can go into composting," said Ethan Nelson, sustainability chair for the trials.
"All of the food service ware - cups, lids, containers, straws, coffee cup lids - all of this is compstable. Whereas generally, a lot of that stuff isn't compostable product," said Nelson.
Nelson said this will put Eugene's strong sustainability efforts on the international spotlight. "It's not just at these Hallmark premiere events, but also the legacy is that we continue to do this in our daily lives and we wanna share that with folks from all over the world," he said.
They've got other "green" initiatives too. Safeway, a sponsor for Track Town 2012, created giant hampster wheels that use human power to charge your cell phone.
"We Can" golf carts will be driving around the area - constantly reminding people to participate in the sustainability and recycling efforts.
Also, a video featuring local athletes will be played throughout the trials - encouraging everyone be sustainable and participate in the "We Can" campaign.
"In Eugene, we have a really strong recycling ethic. We wanna share that with folks from around the world. To come to Track Town USA and show them what Eugene's about," said Nelson.
