Attempting Zero Waste at a race that also involves wining and dining 2,000 people? No problem! A beautiful morning for a challenging set of races, and despite being up to our epaulets in cardboard, the Zero Waste team achieved a high for the year in waste diversion. Read on to see how we did it!
Tag Archives: running
Sustainability Report: Red Carpet Run 2017
What’s better than a gala affair with fancy dress and champagne? A gala affair that involves running, of course. And responsible, sustainable waste management for that special extra touch..
Happy Trails: The Legend races achieve 97 Percent Diversion
An absolutely perfect morning for a race at Sleepy Hollow State Park, and another great Zero Waste result. (Pictured: our race director holding the single bag of trash from a 650-person race.)
Ober the Top! Sustainability Wins at the Oberun 5K
The adage was proven again! Heavily market a 5K and you’ll get a decent turnout; whisper “5K and beer” and they’ll beat down the door, especially if the beer is Oberon. This race sold out weeks before the actual event. With a warm evening forecast, and with post-race food including pizza, the beer cans promisedContinue reading “Ober the Top! Sustainability Wins at the Oberun 5K”
Kaboom! Firecracker 5K hits 99 Percent Diversion
What’s better than a Fourth of July 5K followed by a parade? A Fourth of July 5K that left no trash behind. That’s worth celebrating!
Freedom from Waste: Liberty Festival achieves 97% Diversion
Oh say, can you see. . .any trash? Not at this race! Sustainability Report: Liberty Festival Races 2017 Date: June 17, 2017 Event company: RF Events, Ann Arbor MI Location: Heritage Park, Canton MI # Attendees: 1,200 runners Zero Waste Team volunteers: 2 Race Overview The races are part of a weekend-long Liberty Festival heldContinue reading “Freedom from Waste: Liberty Festival achieves 97% Diversion”
Plastic Recycling Gets A Boost, and More
Some really good things have been happening recently with plastic recycling. And a few of them relate directly to the plastic we consume and discard at running events. Even at the Zero Waste events I work at and/or run in, plastic remains highly used, from water bottles and jugs to coffee and beer cups, disposableContinue reading “Plastic Recycling Gets A Boost, and More”
Don’t Just Toss Those Old Race Clothes!
Look, I get it. I’ve run plenty of wet, sloppy trail races. You expect a mess, so you bring along an old pair of shoes you intend to “retire” immediately after the race. You cross the finish line, change into clean and dry clothes, have a celebratory banana and beer, and then into the trashContinue reading “Don’t Just Toss Those Old Race Clothes!”
Gazelle Girl Race Achieves 98% Diversion and Saves 2,000 lbs. From Landfill
The Gazelle Girl has done it again! Not only does this annual women’s race get more popular each year, they find new and better ways to make it more environmentally friendly. This was the event (2015) that sparked my involvement in Zero Waste at races, and led to the creation of Happy Planet Running. IContinue reading “Gazelle Girl Race Achieves 98% Diversion and Saves 2,000 lbs. From Landfill”
Mars Shows Earth How to Go Green!
GREETINGS, EARTHLINGS. Now that we have successfully invaded and occupied Earth, we will show you that we love it more than you do. Case in point: we came to Dearborn last Saturday – Earth Day – and ran one of the “greenest” marathons on the planet.
Happy Planet Running 