A wet, cold day in downtown Ann Arbor didn’t stop nearly 2,000 runners from showing up for our annual marathon, hosted by Epic Races. Whether they ran the full 26.2 or one of the shorter races, they all got a good run in, and ate and drank a lot afterward. So the Green Team had to be on its toes.
We set up a station in the post-race vendor area, and another between the finish line and the vendor area, which we staffed during the rush. (Thanks, Olivia!) We covered the trash cans at that intersection. We put large All Waste boxes next to each Water Monster. I swept the finish line block of Ashley Street a few times and collected a fair amount of litter scattered throughout.
Morning crew! Evan, Iyana, and Richelle, with Olivia behind them.
Last year, compostables were the majority of the race waste due to the use of compostable cups at the aid stations and finish line. This year, the aid stations used part plain paper cups and part Absopure waxed cups, due to their supplying the water. Fortunately they can be recycled together, but the percentages swung back, with recycling again the main waste stream. Landfill was less than 18 pounds, with a diversion rate of over 97 percent!
The weight of cardboard also increased by about 30 percent. I think that is partly due to Epic recycling their cardboard cup collection boxes because of the rain, and partly due to some water weight.
Due to cool weather we also collected quite a few discarded jackets, sweatshirts, and other clothing, including – a bathrobe? Another first-time item in our bins!
First tie-dye sports bras, now this. Announcing the Playboy Marathon, with your RD, Hugh Jeffner!
Also thanks to the Epic staff who collected the aid station waste and gave them to us in three stages, so we could start early on them. There were several bags left unsorted when I called a halt at 3:00, which I took care of in the following days with little trouble.
Sortin’ in the rain…just sortin’ in the rain…
Everyone on the team worked hard and cheerfully, no small accomplishment on a day like that. And special thanks to volunteer Hailey, who transported several cup bags in her car while we got everything else into the trailer in one load. A happy end to a long day!
Happy Planet Running 