Feeling the Rush! Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2025 Sustainability Report

This is how it usually goes for the Green Team at the annual Dexter-Ann Arbor Run: This year, with great weather and over 3,500 runners, was no different. In fact, it was the rushiest rust I’ve experienced in seven years of doing this. But thanks to a terrific group of HPR staff and volunteers, weContinue reading “Feeling the Rush! Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2025 Sustainability Report”

Happy 50th! Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2024 Sustainability Report

The 50th anniversary of the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run this year achieved a couple of sustainability milestones, appropriate for the special year: And all this with attendance up 33 percent from last year, a post-pandemic high of over 4,100 runners. Waste streams included: Our single bag of landfill consisted of tape, diapers, contaminated plastic, laminated paper,Continue reading “Happy 50th! Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2024 Sustainability Report”

Attendance Up, Waste Down! Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2023 Sustainability Report

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 cupsContinue reading “Attendance Up, Waste Down! Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2023 Sustainability Report”

2022: Year in Review

The final numbers are in! 2022 was another great year at HPR, providing Zero Waste services to 33 events. The summary chart and trend charts are below. As you can see, waste per 100 runners and total waste per event were under the seven-year average, and the landfill diversion rate rose to its highest levelContinue reading “2022: Year in Review”

Zero Waste Four Years Running! 2022 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run Sustainability Report

This year’s Dexter-Ann Arbor Run was back at its normal date of early June, with increased attendance and a perfect day for running. And for the fourth consecutive year, we achieved over 96 percent landfill diversion, qualifying it per ZWIA [1] guidelines as a true “Zero Waste” event! (90% Diversion is considered Excellent and 95%Continue reading “Zero Waste Four Years Running! 2022 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run Sustainability Report”

Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2021 Sustainability Report

The Dexter-Ann Arbor Run is one of Ann Arbor’s longest-running events. This is the 47th year of the event, and the third using a Zero Waste approach. Once again we achieved over 90 percent landfill diversion, officially making it a “Zero Waste” event per ZWIA guidelines! Attendance was down from previous years but still healthy,Continue reading “Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2021 Sustainability Report”

Ann Arbor Track Club Salutes Zero Waste at its Flagship Event

The Dexter-Ann Arbor Run, a half-marathon put on by the Ann Arbor Track Club (AATC), has been held annually since 1974 and draws thousands of runners each year. As with any event that size, it generates a lot of waste. In 2018 AATC approved a Zero Waste initiative for the race, and landfill waste wasContinue reading “Ann Arbor Track Club Salutes Zero Waste at its Flagship Event”

A Long, But Happy Day: 2019 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run Sustainability Report

It was a beautiful morning, and runners were out in force for the annual 13.1-mile jaunt along the Huron River from Dexter to Ann Arbor. This was great news for the Ann Arbor Track Club and local businesses. But could the Zero Waste team stay of top of the festivities and repeat last year’s 98Continue reading “A Long, But Happy Day: 2019 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run Sustainability Report”

2018 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run Sustainability Report

An iconic running event in the Ann Arbor area gets a big boost to its Zero Waste efforts. With several thousand runners, thousands of discarded cups, and nearly 2,000 pounds of total event waste, how did they achieve over 98 percent landfill diversion and leave their trash dumpsters nearly empty? Read on to find out!