Austin Marathon Sets the Pace

…for going green and event recycling

Austin Marathon organizers showed their competitive spirit by challenging themselves to increase the amount of materials recycled and diverted from the landfill from last year.  Last year’s efforts earned them the title of “Greenest Race in North America” from Runner’s World Magazine, and this year they pushed themselves even harder to excel. 

Marathon 2009 Recycling Results:

• # of Green Team Volunteers – 112
• # of Green Team Volunteer Hours - 560
• Lbs of material recycled – 4.4 TONS
• Recycled Materials Breakdown by weight

o   41% plastic

o   33% cardboard

o   18% wood

o   8% aluminum

Not settling for just improving their own recycling efforts, Conley Sports also made a donation to Keep Austin Beautiful to purchase 12 recycling flags that will stand above crowds to help direct attendees toward recycling bins.  These flags will become part of KAB’s free recycling bin lending program and be available for use at events throughout the year.

The Austin Marathon & Half Marathon is pursuing ReSport Certification in 2009. Through this comprehensive program organizers are dedicated to evaluating all aspects of the event and looking for green alternatives wherever possible. Here are some of the things marathon organizers implemented in 2009:

• 100% Online Registration
• Encouraged carpooling through TripVerde
• Plastics, aluminum, wood, and cardboard recycling (on course, start and finish line and at expo)
• Encouraging public transit wherever possible
• Composting dumpsters for surplus waste and food
• All Austin Outhouse units serviced with Dyna-Bact Environmental Toilet Deodorizer (an eco friendly product that is used to clean port a potties)+ Toilet paper manufactured with recycled content
• Solar-powered main stage (powers live music performances and awards ceremony
• Biodiesel and solar-powered generators for all electricity needs
• Official race vehicles and trucks use Bio-diesel fuel- no-idle zones will be enforced
• Carbon-offset sales -$5 Green Tickets can be purchase at registration. Your green ticket is brought to you by BeGreen, a division of Green Mountain Energy Company 
• Team of kayakers from the Austin Rowing Center will retrieve items discarded in Lady Bird Lake as runners pass over the Ann B. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge and the South First Street bridge
• Farmer's market with local and organic produce at the finish line
• Gutter Buddies (to help protect Lady Bird Lake from debris in the gutters)
• Credentials (made from recycled plastic and organic cotton lanyards)
• Promote and Educated training groups through email to recycle and be conscious runner
• Website –HostGator the company that host our website… All of our shared and reseller servers are now 130% wind powered!
• Natural Cotton Event Shirts
• Organic Cotton Half Marathon Finisher’s shirt
• 16 of the waterstops were supplied by COA water supply 

Recycling Flags Sponsored by: