FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Major Environmental Effort Underway For Honda LA Marathon
Race is one of only seven marathons nationwide to
achieve certification in 2009
LOS ANGELES – March 10, 2010 – Organizing a major marathon involves a
mountain of details, and creates a mountain of trash.
The 2010 Honda LA Marathon presented by K-Swiss, however, is finding ways
to reduce the environmental impact of the event and its 2009 efforts earned
it certification from the Council for Responsible Sport (CRS), based on
scoring on its six categories of waste, climate, equipment and materials,
community and outreach, health promotion and innovation. It is one of only
seven marathons nationally to receive certification.
The Marathon worked with Athletes for a Fit Planet to create and execute
the plan for certification qualification. The highlights from the 2009
effort included:
Diversion of about 50% of the 10 tons of solid waste created by the
race away from landfills to recycling and waste-to-energy uses, resulting
in less than 0.5 lbs of landfill waste per participant. The thousands of
wax paper cups collected from the course were turned into clean energy.
Introduction of a "virtual goodie bag" that saved the use of 50,000
plastic bags and printing of about 1,000,000 pieces of literature.
Participants received an email with product and service promotions that
they could redeem online.
Reduction of the carbon footprint of the race by using
bio-deisel-powered generators and encouraging participants to ride-share or
use public transportation to get to the race.
Partnership with Heal the Bay to raise awareness and funding for
programs to clean up Santa Monica Bay.
Partnership with Students Run L.A., a program to encourage fitness
among youth, which is part of the CRS social responsibility category of
Health Promotion.
Provided "green' portable toilets, which replaced toxic chemicals used
in the tanks with eco-friendly, non-toxic chemicals.
"The LA Marathon did a phenomenal job to green the race in 2009 by earning
certification to the rigorous industry standard administered by the Council
for Responsible Sport," said Bruce Rayner, Chief Green Officer, Athletes
for a Fit Planet. "The race organizers are committed to making
sustainability a core element of the identity of the race again this year."
Additional efforts being channeled into the 2010 race include, but are not
limited to:
Recycling of runner's gear-check bags and mylar blankets at the Finish
Line Beach Party.
Composting of food waste from the pre-race Win Forever Inspiration
Dinner.
Printing of some promotional literature using soy-based inks.
Awarding of reusable water bottles for age-group winners.
Free bike valet area at the Finish Line Beach Party (located at 1550
Pacific Coast Highway) and at Ocean and Arizona Avenues in Santa Monica
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on raceday.
A specially-recruited team of Eco Volunteers will be assisting with the
effort, both at the LA Marathon Expo at Dodger Stadium and around the
finish-line area in Santa Monica, encouraging recycling packaging materials
used by vendors and collecting recyclable materials from runners.
CRS formally launched the standard in 2009 and the Marathon was one of the
first events nationally to commit to certification.
"Any event of our size, with 25,000 participants and more than a
half-million spectators, is going to generate some environmental impact,"
noted LA MARATHON LLC creative director Peter Abraham. "But with some
careful planning and an eye toward reducing waste wherever we can, we can
make a difference and we're committed to doing so."
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