FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5,280 Pounds of Clothing Collected at Marine Corps Marathon for Charity
MCM Green Initiate soars with 15.7 tons in total 2018 recycling
and composting
QUANTICO, VA (Nov 13, 2018) - The 43rd Marine Corps Marathon (MCM), held on
Sunday, October 28 in Arlington, VA and the nation's capital, successfully
minimized its environmental footprint with an aggressive green campaign.
Event organizers and various partners collected and repurposed discarded
clothing, composted food items and recycled numerous high volume items.
With ideal and cool running temperatures at the MCM this year, there was a
surplus of discarded clothing and jackets left on the MCM course. In an
effort to contribute to the local community and keep the streets clean, the
Clothing Recycling Company, an MCM partner, collected 5,280 pounds of
clothing. Much of the clothing was distributed to various local shelters
and service providers. Almost 1,600 pounds of athletic clothing has been
stored for distribution over the winter months. This year's number is a 36
percent increase in clothing collected, as compared to the 3,870 pounds
gathered in 2017.
In 2018, the Arlington County, Department of Environmental Services, Solid
Waste Bureau tracked the impressive MCM composting and recycling effort.
These items were collected from water points along the MCM course, at the
MCM Kids Run and in the MCM Finish Festival in Rosslyn.
- 7.47 tons of total recycled trash and composted materials
- 5.38 tons of mixed recyclables (includes metal, plastic, glass, food and
beverage containers, paper and cardboard materials)
- New in 2018: 1.43 tons of waxed cups
- 2/3 ton of Fyffes banana peels
"Every October, the Arlington County Solid Waste Bureau looks forward to
assisting the MCM reach their waste reduction goals by collecting
recyclable and compostable materials generated at the event. Despite the
long hours on event day, the comradery and sense of pride that accompanies
working the MCM results in repeat staff requesting to work it year after
year. We are proud to be a part of the MCM team that contributes to the
event's overall success!" shares Shani Kruljac, Operations Manager with
Arlington County, Department of Environmental Services, Solid Waste Bureau.
In partnership with Fyffes North America, the MCM placed yellow composting
receptacles in the MCM Finish Festival located in Rosslyn, VA to collect
the 30,000 Fyffes bananas that were distributed to finishers in the
hospitality area.
Marion Tabard, VP of Marketing of Fyffes North America, notes, "We
initiated the composting program together with the MCM in 2014. Over the
years, it has become one of the largest composting programs at a single
event. We are proud of the impact of this continued partnership as it
aligns strongly with our core values and on-going commitment to sustainable
practices."
In addition, Veteran Compost collected 1,450 pounds of orange peels from an
on-course food station hosted by Wegmans. This effort left the streets of
the MCM streets flawless and without a trace of trash. At the MCM Health &
Fitness Expo presented by Cigna, AMVETS National Service Foundation
received 200 pairs of shoes from runners to be repurposed.
New in 2018, the Water Monster made its debut on the 14th Street Bridge as
a self-serving water station as a new way to "Beat the Bridge." There were
16 tanks, each holding 125 gallons of water, for a total of 2,000 gallons.
The amount equals 16,000 16 oz. water bottles and 48,000 cups worth of
water in green savings.
The MCM is a Gold certified event, the highest level awarded by the Council
for Responsible Sport for being socially and environmentally responsible as
a world-class running event. The MCM has been recognized for enacting best
practices becoming the largest marathon at the time to earn this
distinction among environmentally-conscious sporting events. The MCM plans
to continue its green efforts in 2019.
About Marine Corps Marathon:
The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM), known as "The People's Marathon," promotes
physical fitness and generates community goodwill while showcasing the high
standards and discipline of the United States Marine Corps. Annually ranked
as one of the largest marathons in the US and the world, the MCM welcomes
runners from all 50 states and more than 60 countries. The MCM is presented
by Arlington County, Brooks, Cigna and Leidos. No federal or Marine Corps
endorsement is implied. Connect with the Marine Corps Marathon on Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Flickr. #RunWithTheMarines
About Fyffes:
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2018, Fyffes is one of the largest and
oldest tropical produce importers and distributors. With an infrastructure
that reaches across the globe, Fyffes is truly an international player,
involved in the production, procurement, shipping, ripening, distribution
and marketing of bananas, pineapples, melons and more recently mushrooms.
Since 1888, Fyffes has been committed to bringing the world the highest
quality products, inspiring people to feel excitement about our brands and
making a positive difference for our growers and farmers, our customers and
the environment. Today, Fyffes is the largest importer of bananas in Europe
and the No. 1 importer of off-shore melons in North America. In addition to
tropical fruit, Fyffes is the third largest producer of mushrooms in North
America. Discover more at Fyffes.com.
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