The Houston Marathon Committee is going green!
We are committed to producing sustainable events, with the definition and measure of sustainability being the Council for Responsible Sport’s standards for certification. This year we are applying for two separate CRS Certifications, one for the U.S. Olympic Men's and Women's Marathon Trials, the other for all of our 40th Annual Houston Marathon events.
Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport formally recognizes a significant achievement: the successful completion of a socially and environmentally responsible sporting event. Standards can be achieved in areas ranging from waste management and climate impact to community involvement, health promotion and more. For the U.S Olympic Men's and Women's Marathon Trials, we are applying for 38 CRS Certification credits, which would earn basic CRS Certification. For our 40th Annual Houston Marathon events, we are applying for 51 CRS Certification credits, which would earn Silver CRS Certification.
Check out what we're doing to reduce our environmental footprint:
- 100% paperless race registration.
- Distribute 26,000 reusable goodie bags to all race participants
- Utilize filtered hydrant water at all course water stations Do not use plastic water bottles at EXPO or on the race course
- Composting at least 50% of food waste and other organics, including all water station cups
- Supply convenient recycling bins at EXPO and Post-race Party
- Implementing a no styrofoam policy for expo exhibitors and food vendors
- Donate 100+ pounds of unused food to the Houston Food Bank
- Collect and donate left behind clothing to Star of Hope
- Tapping into the renewable energy sources at both Discovery Green and the George R. Brown Convention Center
- Providing environmentally-friendly portable toilets and sinks
- Utilize fuel efficient vehicles for lead cars; Hybrids make up 60% of cars used on the race course
- Working with Waste Management to ensure at least 75% of all race-related waste is diverted from going to landfill
- Encouraging everyone from participants to volunteers to spectators to use alternative transportation options to travel to and from events
- Hand out marathon and half marathon Under Armour finisher shirts made from recycled plastic bottles
Eco-Logistics offers race directors the benefit of over 30 years of both road race and solid waste management experience. Eco-Logistics willl assist the Houston Marathon Committee assess opportunities and challenges, from transportation to equipment to materials to waste management, help devise a systematic plan for achieving green objectives, and work with the Committee step-by-step from pre-race registration to post-race cleanup and publicity.
Waste Management Sustainability Services has partnered with the Houston Marathon Committee to incorporate green strategies into every stage of the event. Not only do they provide port-o-lets and oversee waste, recycling and composting on race weekend, Waste Management will also help the Houston Marathon Committee think about how to decrease the amount of waste coming into the event, strategize on reusing materials from year to year, find outlets for more nontraditional recyclable materials, and help position the Houston Marathon as one of the most sustainable races in the country.
Click here for more information about Waste Management Sustainability Services.
Become a Green Crew member today! Click here to register for race day!
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