The Dexter-Ann Arbor Run this year was notable for several things. Attendance regained the 3,000 mark for the first time since the pandemic, and with some major changes to waste management, we set a new low in landfill waste!
The two biggest changes were replacing disposable cups at the water stops with reusable silicone cups from Hiccup Earth, and replacing water bottles at the finish line with cups filled from two Water Monsters. And because they were filled with city water from a tap, there was no need to purchase water in jugs, saving even more material. The significant investment by the race in these improvements was well received by the runners, and much appreciated by the Green Team. To the Ann Arbor Track Club and race director Clint McCormick, thank you! And extra thanks to the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovation, which funded the Hiccups!
These improvements, with others, resulted in another drop in waste per 100 runners – a downward trend since 2019 – and a record low 15.8 lbs. going to landfill out of over 1,100 lbs. total waste. Everything else was recycled or composted. And our total recycling dropped by over 100 lbs. – a reduction of nearly twenty percent!
Waste streams included:
- Cardboard and plastic wrap from the finish line;
- Disposable cups from the finish line and beer area;
- Food waste and pizza boxes from the food tents;
- A ton (well, 20 lbs.) of Gu wrappers, which all went to TerraCycle along with small plastics and race bibs.
We set up three stations along Main Street between the finish line and the food tents. The food was farther south than in previous years, which also allowed us to cover the trash can at Huron St. and put an All Waste box on top. Food was the standard bagels, bananas, oranges, and pizza. When the beer tables got busy, we added another station there.
We had a good-sized morning team this year, with HPR staffers Alex and Connor in addition to volunteers Ian and Dave. This allowed finish line director Michael and me to be “rovers” assisting at the stations when needed, picking up litter, and taking full carts to Ground Zero. And the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability provided another hard-working team for the afternoon shift; Zach, Hugh, Carissa, Zona, and Ryan worked their tails off going through the aid station bags, along with HPR staffers Rachael and Charlie. Great job, everyone!
The finish line team did another great job sorting out the plastic bags and plastic wrap from medals. The food tent volunteers did better than previous years, but there was still some cross-contamination. In one nice touch, they rinsed out most of the disposable aluminum trays, keeping some to reuse and giving us nice clean ones to recycle. Much appreciated!
The lower aid station waste gave another huge boost to the Green Team’s spirits. Previously, it arrived in a 17-foot truck stuffed with lots of cardboard and bag after bag of cups mixed with Gu wrappers and other contamination. This year, with the reusable cups, everything was delivered in a pickup truck, and while there was sorting to do, it was completed much more quickly.
As with last year, we contracted with Unlimited Recycling for compost carts and a recycling dumpster. We used all 12 compost carts for food waste and pizza boxes, and filled the 10-yard dumpster with cardboard, cups from the finish line and beer, and miscellaneous other recyclables. Just right!
Our single bag of landfill consisted of tape, contaminated plastic, laminated paper, and other items we couldn’t process. But I found a recycling solution for the disposable vinyl tablecloths – TerraCycle takes them – so that saved over six pounds. I am still hoping they switch to plain paper at some point, which we can compost.
Just a couple of challenges (par for the course). Despite our vigilance, a couple of “rogue” trash cans popped up and began to fill with mixed waste. I removed them before they got too full, however. And there was a fair amount of litter on Main Street before the finish line, which was reported late in the race. We sent someone to collect it. Something to add to the checklist for future years.
Everything about the way this race is organized and put on is something the Ann Arbor Track Club can be proud of. And the continuing investment in making it sustainable is worth bragging about. With a landfill diversion rate consistently over 95 percent, it sets a model for a world-class Zero Waste event.
Happy Planet Running 
My club has a race on Mother’s Day.
These past two years our local water authority, Mass Water Resources Authority, brought their “water wagon”, my name not theirs.
It has 6 is so taps and people fill their water bottles or paper cups.
The wagon has been at several other local races.
I used to bring home bags of 1 gallon water jugs to recycle, but none these past two years.
We also used to get Hint water donated to us, but no more!
And our volunteers are breaking down the cardboard boxes and taking them home. They see me doing it and no one asks any questions. I’ve trained them well!
Keep up the great work!
Andy