It was a cold, wet morning in Ann Arbor, but over a thousand brave souls turned up to run a 5K (and drink beer), and some equally brave kids ran a 1K (and ate ice cream). The Zero Waste team had to do its best to stay reasonably dry and warm while making sure theContinue reading “Green Race, Green Results! Shamrocks & Shenanigans 2019 Sustainability Report”
Tag Archives: Recycling
Single-Use Coffee Pods Just Got Less Evil
A few years ago, I was waiting in line at a Whole Foods coffee bar. A woman asked the barista, “What do you recommend for a Keurig?” The resulting pause was too long; I couldn’t resist. “A sledgehammer,” I piped up. (*) Snarky advice and fantasies aside, I do not encourage the wanton destruction ofContinue reading “Single-Use Coffee Pods Just Got Less Evil”
Recycling Roundup, Week of Feb. 25, 2019: Zero Waste Cities
A number of cities around the world – at least 25, according to National Geographic – are pursuing Zero Waste as a city-wide initiative. Of the 94 major cities in the C40 Cities organization, 23 have signed a commitment that includes the following goals by the year 2030: Cut the amount of waste generated byContinue reading “Recycling Roundup, Week of Feb. 25, 2019: Zero Waste Cities”
Recycling Roundup, Week of Feb. 18, 2019: Focus on Reduction
What’s a much better way to deal with single use plastics than recycling them? Not using them in the first place. It’s no secret that the world is swimming in plastic waste. In some cases, literally. And a good deal of that plastic was designed for single use. Plastic water and soda bottles, straws, utensils,Continue reading “Recycling Roundup, Week of Feb. 18, 2019: Focus on Reduction”
“Yeti ‘nother” Great Result! Bigfoot Snowshoe Race 2019 Sustainability Report
Welcome to the Bigfoot Snowshoe race, where the temperature – and the trash – were both close to zero this year! You know a Zero Waste effort is going well when you have less than one pound of trash but still want to do better. And then we found a way to reduce it toContinue reading ““Yeti ‘nother” Great Result! Bigfoot Snowshoe Race 2019 Sustainability Report”
Great Kickoff to 2019: Frosty Freestyle Sustainability Report
There was no natural snow on the ground, but the lodge had made enough to cover the race course. It was a bit unusual to see a white stripe on the exposed green and brown golf course, but it was fine for skiing. So the Frosty Freestyle races went on, and the Zero Waste teamContinue reading “Great Kickoff to 2019: Frosty Freestyle Sustainability Report”
Damn Good Year! 2018 in Review
What a year! Here are the results from events serviced by Happy Planet Running in 2018, with 95 percent average landfill diversion! Here’s the breakdown by waste stream. By the numbers: Number of events: 34 Total attendance: 48,000 Total waste managed: 15,700 lbs. (nearly eight tons!) Best events: RF Events Flirt with Dirt, the EpicContinue reading “Damn Good Year! 2018 in Review”
Holiday Hustle 2018 Sustainability Report
It was Hustle time in downtown Dexter, with a beautiful sunny afternoon highlighting the colorful decorations and the costumes of runners. But it was cold, which was a challenge for those working the race instead of running it. Challenges for the Zero Waste team include setting up in the cold, takedown in the dark andContinue reading “Holiday Hustle 2018 Sustainability Report”
Stuff Turkeys, not Trash Bags! Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot Sustainability Report
What’s one way to really appreciate a hot Thanksgiving Day dinner with family and friends? Run a cold 5K in the morning! This Thanksgiving Day 3,400 runners toed the line in downtown Ann Arbor for a turkey trot and warmed up with cookies, coffee, and hot chocolate afterward. So despite hand and feet-numbing cold, theContinue reading “Stuff Turkeys, not Trash Bags! Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot Sustainability Report”
Cold Turkey? Epic Races Turkey Trot Sustainability Report
The metropark was covered in snow from the night before, but the Turkey Trot went on as scheduled, and some folks were brave enough to earn an “Iron Turkey” by running both the 5K and 10K. But there was hot food and a wood-burning stove waiting to warm up the runners, and the Zero WasteContinue reading “Cold Turkey? Epic Races Turkey Trot Sustainability Report”
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