It was cold in them thar woods for this year’s RF Events Bigfoot Snowshoe Race in the Traverse City area. Race start temps hovered just above zero, and wind chill – well, I didn’t ask. Tough going in deep, fluffy snow, and two Bigfoots (Bigfeet?) were spotted on the trail, but I completed the 5K without being eaten. Then it was back to the resort to staff the Zero Waste station, where we kept 98.7 percent of the event’s waste out of the landfill. That’s a toasty result!
As usual, our station was set up near the exit, where most of the traffic flowed. We gave the lodge’s indoor trash bins the morning off, and put a large All Waste box on top of an outdoor trash bin. (We overlooked a second one, but found it later and removed the race waste.)
Not the most dynamic photo, but it was pre-rush.
Compostable bowls and spoons were used for the post-race chili. Recycling consisted of cardboard, plastic water bottles, a few paper cups, and an assortment of miscellaneous items like wrappers from granola bars, hand warmers, Gu wrappers, race bibs, etc. which go to TerraCycle. And the disposable aluminum chili pans were washed and recycled. Landfill consisted only of soiled plastic bags that held the chili seasonings, a shop towel, and some tape.
This year’s 47.1 pounds of total waste was the lowest in the nine years we’ve done Zero Waste for this event. Part of that was likely due to conditions, with over a hundred fewer shoers than usual. The amount of cardboard was cut nearly in half, perhaps from reduced packaging for awards and shirts.
Thanks to my friend Sue, who did her first 5K in snowshoes and then helped me at the Zero Waste station!
Sue proudly showing off her race bib. She won an age group award, too!
Happy Planet Running 