Last Sunday Happy Planet Running was privileged to provide Zero Waste services to a very special event – the Tri del Sol triathlon in the Grand Rapids area, which included a very special group of athletes and the volunteer assistants who support them.
myTEAM TRIUMPH is a nonprofit with operations in 14 states, helping people with disabilities participate in athletic events they wouldn’t otherwise be able to compete in. Each athlete, called a “captain” is assisted by three “angels” who help the athlete during the race. At this event they towed the swimmer when needed and either assisted with the bike and run portions, or pushed them in a “chariot” similar to a racing wheelchair. This year there were about 20 captains in a total field of about 200.
A captain and angels in transition to the bike portion of the race.
The Tri del Sol race organization has wanted to go sustainable for years, and when the race director and a myTEAM TRIUMPH board member saw us in action at the Grand Rapids Triathlon, they asked if we could do the same for their event. So staffer Debbie and I headed to Middleville and overnighted in cabins at the YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin, where the race was held.
At 5:00 a.m. Sunday we set up the Zero Waste station in the finish area, completing a rectangle with the finish line, food tents, and a physical therapy station. Additional All Waste boxes were placed at each end of transition up the hill near the lodge, inside the volunteer rooms of the lodge, and in the late registration area. Debbie covered the beach until all the swimmers had started, and then returned to the main station to work with our volunteers while I mainly played “rover” swapping out boxes in the other areas. This worked well.
Green Team: Debbie, Jeff (me) and volunteer Bill.
For the most part everything went smoothly on our end. We were even able to weigh everything before we left, and drop off most of the recycling on the way back. The race organizers helped reduce waste by using jugs of water and small cups at the finish instead of disposable water bottles and by using thin paper plates for post-race pizza and other food.
Fueled by Fireball, and fired up for zero waste!
This being their first year, there were naturally some areas for improvement. One would be to rethink the volunteer snack packages, which included disposable water bottles and several individually wrapped snacks. Not many of the packages were actually taken, so perhaps they really aren’t needed. And as the pizza wasn’t that messy, perhaps the use of plates could be limited too.
I slipped up by not confirming my assumption that the paper plates were uncoated. A followup after the event showed that they were in fact coated, so they should not have been composted. There weren’t that many, so the contamination was minimal, but it’s a mistake I won’t make again.
myTEAM TRIUMPH of Michigan board member Ellen holds the SPoT (Single Pail o’ Trash)!
As usual, we finished with just a small pail of landfill, consisting mainly of waxed paper, tape, and one diaper. I think we can agree that’s also a triumph!
Happy Planet Running 