An organization dedicated to empowering girls and encouraging them to run decides to go Zero Waste for its annual 5K events. Happy Planet Running and Zero Waste Washtenaw were happy to step up to help. How well did we succeed, given some nasty weather and so many runners? Really well! See below.
Category Archives: Events
The Kids Show the Way: Upland Hills 5K/10K Sustainability Report
A small school dedicated to student involvement and sustainable practices decides to host a 5K. Naturally, they want it to be done in line with their guiding principles. Who they gonna call? Happy Planet Running, of course! And how did it go? Read on!
Great and Getting Better: Trail Marathon Weekend 2018 Sustainability Report
Despite lousy weather in 2017, Zero Waste at Trail Marathon Weekend improved significantly from 2016, cutting landfill waste in half and improving diversion from 90 percent to 95 percent. Could we improve even more on this in 2018? We did indeed! Read on to find out how we did it.
Wind, Water, and Waste: Martian Invasion of Races 2018 Sustainability Report
There are some events where the Zero Waste effort goes exactly as planned. The day is beautiful, the volunteers are engaged and enthusiastic, and you achieve more than you thought possible. This year’s Martian Invasion of Races was not one of them.
Dirty Racers, Clean Race: Waterloo G&G Bike Race Sustainability Report
Epic Races kicks off their 2018 bike season and second year of their Zero Waste program. How “clean and green” could we make a race notorious for getting people dirty? Read on to find out!
A Green Race Indeed! Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K Sustainability Report
A big, fast race on a cold day downtown, and two volunteers had to manage the entire Zero Waste effort. It would be hard to beat last year’s 96.7 percent landfill diversion with under six pounds of trash. Would they be flying it, or would it be a scundered bollox job? See below!
Could You Cover Your Glass, Please? Super 5K Sustainability Report
A snowy Sunday morning in Michigan, but over 1,000 runners came out to get in a 5K before the Big Game. And all of them would want to grab hot dogs, cookies, pint glasses and awards, and be on their way soon afterward. In past years the rush has been very challenging for the ZeroContinue reading “Could You Cover Your Glass, Please? Super 5K Sustainability Report”
Big Feet, Small Footprint: Bigfoot Snowshoe Race Sustainability Report
The snow had mostly melted south of Traverse City, but at Timber Ridge there was hard pack on the groomed trails and deep dry powder in the singletrack sections. Perfect for a snowshoe race! Temperatures in the 30s meant some racers ran in T-shirts and shorts, but the lines for the post-race chili were asContinue reading “Big Feet, Small Footprint: Bigfoot Snowshoe Race Sustainability Report”
Brrr! Holiday Hustle Sustainability Report
It was Holiday Hustle time in Dexter, where several thousand diehard runners showed up, hustled their way through a mile or three, and then hustled out of there. And supporting them was over a hundred diehard staff and volunteers determined to help them enjoy the experience. The Zero Waste team was fired up to finishContinue reading “Brrr! Holiday Hustle Sustainability Report”
Cold Turkey, Hot Chocolate, Zero Waste
A cold, blustery morning didn’t stop thousands of people from packing downtown Ann Arbor for the annual Turkey Trot. With a hot chocolate and coffee station for the runners, we promised to be awash in cups, as well as bananas, cookies, and cardboard from all the boxes. We learned last year that making the raceContinue reading “Cold Turkey, Hot Chocolate, Zero Waste”
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