FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MCM Captures Gold Certification for Environmental Initiatives
Council for Responsible Sport Awards the MCM for
Enacting High standards as Green Event
QUANTICO, VA (Jan. 28, 2015) - The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) has received
Gold certification, the highest level awarded by the Council for
0Responsible Sport for being socially and environmentally responsible as a
world-class running event. The MCM has been recognized for enacting best
practices during the 39th MCM held on Oct. 25, 2014. The MCM earned 45
credits to become the largest U.S. marathon to earn this distinction among
environmentally-conscious sporting events.
According to the Council, the MCM earned credit for both meeting and
exceeding standards for Effective Planning and Communications; Procurement
of products and supplies and work with partners with environmental focus;
Resource Management; Public Access and Equity for all participants and for
the MCM's ongoing efforts toward building a Community Legacy.
"The Marine Corps Marathon was an early adopter of the Council for
Responsible Sport standards, an indicator of its status as a principled
organization that brings true value to the local and running communities,"
says Shelley Villalobos, certification director, Council for Responsible
Sport.
"I salute the MCM's commitment and efforts around waste minimization,
reducing barriers to participation and engaging its audience around
important social causes," she adds. "From the MCM's partnership with the
Leave No Trace campaign, to its support for a myriad of MCM Charity
Partners, the D.C. Metro area is a better place to live, play and run
because this event exists."
This is the MCM's first gold certification by the Council for Responsible
Sport. The MCM was awarded Silver-level certification in 2009 and again in
2011. The Council awards certification every two years.
Prior to the 39th MCM, the organization initiated a robust plan to reduce
carbon footprint, waste, energy, consumption while also educating MCM
participants to be environmentally aware and "Stash the Trash." This
campaign, promoted to the public via the website, media and social media
and throughout all events during MCM Weekend, was coordinated with the
National Park Service to promote a clean event.
"The MCM is thrilled to have the Council for Responsible Sport's
recognition and Gold certification," says MCM Director Rick Nealis. "In
conjunction with partners like Arlington County Solid Waste Bureau, Two
Marines and a Truck, the Clothing Recycling Company and Turbana, MCM
cleanup efforts were very effective, aided by the unique "Adopt a Mile"
initiative to conduct trash cleanup along the course."
In conjunction with Arlington County's Solid Waste Bureau, 7.33 tons of
trash was collected on Marathon Day. Nearly 1,540 pounds of banana and
orange peels were collected from runners for composting, while 7,000
plastic jugs and 2,200 cardboard boxes were recycled, preventing those
items from going to a landfill.
In addition, the MCM and its partners collected 7.46 tons of clothing that
were cleaned and donated to local Arlington and Washington, DC-area
shelters following the Marathon. Also during MCM Weekend, visitors of the
Health & Fitness Expo presented by GE were encouraged to retire their
high-mileage running shoes by donating them at the event. The MCM collected
650 pounds of shoes at the DC Armory and delivered them to One World
Running, an international program that provides providing running shoes to
those in need in the United States and around the globe.
The MCM's headquarters hotel, the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill,
and sponsor companies and organizations such as Turbana, Chipotle, Clif
Bar, Silver Diner, Fitful, the Rosslyn Business Improvement District and
Washington Metro Area Transit Authority also focused on reducing their
carbon footprint at the event.
More information about the MCM's environmental efforts is available at
www.marinemarathon.com. The 40th Marine Corps Marathon will be held on
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 in Arlington, VA and throughout the nation's capital.
The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM), the third largest marathon in the United
States and eighth largest in the world is voted "Best Marathon in the Mid
Atlantic" and "Best Marathon for Spectators." The MCM honors the
dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism of its participants. Also known as
"The People's Marathon," runners from all walks of life participate in the
MCM, the largest marathon not to offer prize money. The 40th MCM will be
held on October 25, 2015 in Arlington, VA. No federal or Marine Corps
endorsement is implied. #RunWithTheMarines
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