Going Green

In December 2009, the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) was awarded silver-level certification from becoming the largest event to date to earn this distinction.  CRS provides an independent, comprehensive certification for sustainable athletic events evaluating five categories: Waste, Climate, Materials & Equipment, Community & Outreach, and Health Promotion.

The MCM achieved over a 32 percent reduction in waste to landfill in just one year's time. The standard decrease in waste to landfill for most events is ten percent.  The MCM reduced waste by more than a pound per runner or 8.5 tons compared to 2008 totals. Athletes for a Fit Planet consulted and provided on-site support for the MCM's environmental initiatives.

An aggressive recycling effort at the Finish Festival supported by the Rosslyn Business Improvement District and Arlington County's Department of Environmental Services led to the collection of 3.2 tons of recycling materials, the largest haul in the three years of this program.



MCM Eco-Friendly Programs

REDUCE
The MCM is already proud to offer paperless applications for all events, as well as electronic finisher certificates to reduce unnecessary waste. This year, the MCM Race Program will be eco-friendly as well. Working closely with , the first printing company in the US to be awarded Certification from the Forest Stewardship Council, the MCM race program will be printed entirely on recycled paper and features a custom mix of vegetable-based inks. Be sure to check out program in your race materials and see if you can tell a difference! Hopefully you’ll keep the race program as a memorable keepsake, but if you must throw it away, please recycle!

At the finish line, runners will be able to enjoy Eco-fina bottles of Aquafina water. These newly designed bottles are the lightest weight and most environmentally-friendly bottles on the market. Weighing in at 10.9 grams, Eco-Fina utilizes 50% less plastic than similar Aquafina packaging produced in 2002 and is estimated to eliminate the use of 75 million pounds of plastic annually.

Staying at the race headquarters hotel? The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capital Hill is one of only two “Green Seal Approved” hotels in Washington, DC with a host of programs to minimize waste and maximize efficiency. Click here to learn more.

Hargrove, the show designer for the Health and Fitness Expo also operates with a variety of eco-oriented programs. Click here to learn more.

Even the D-tag timing chip is environmentally friendly. Click here to see how it stacks up against the reusable timing chip.


REUSE
New for 2009, the Healthy Kids Fun Run featured an eco-friendly race bibs, created by emediagroup. Composed from post-consumer waste and wildflower seeds, the seed paper bibs allowed runners to commemorate their race by planting their bib. Families can enjoy the resulting Black-Eyed Susans along with the satisfaction of being green!

Runners and spectators saw lots of event signage throughout race weekend to designate locations, provide directions and more. The MCM makes every effort to reuse banners from year to year to reduce waste and save the energy needed to produce more. Additionally, the MCM’s signage creators at Britten Banner revamp non-reusable signage into new products, including tote bags, like those used as part of the Super-Size Goodie bags!



RECYCLE
For a fourth year, Arlington County will collect cardboard and plastic recyclable materials at the race finish as well as at all Arlington-based water points. At MCM, approximately two tons of material was recycled, including cardboard, water jugs, and water and PowerAde bottles. Additionally, clothing shed by runners on the streets of Rosslyn was donated to a local shelter.

Trash collected at the MCM is removed from site by the local company Special Events Rental. They will compost race waste including cups from the water points and beer garden, as well as recycle materials such as the HeatSheet blanket runners receive at the finish line.

How Runners Can Help

GET A MOVE ON!
Get involved in the MCM’s new Trash Run program. Each time you embark on a run, take time to look at your surroundings and at any trash along the way. Make a plan to grab a bag or container to pick up the trash on your route. Whether its paper, plastic or any other object– tell the MCM where you found the trash and how many bags you collected. Take a few pictures while you are removing the trash and Marine Corps Marathon may post your photo on this page.

RECYCLE!
Take advantage of the recycling stations throughout the course. Simply toss your plastic bottles and cardboard materials in the designated recycling receptacles instead of the trash.

TAKE METRO!
The simple act of taking public transportation instead of driving a vehicle can reduce hundreds of tons of CO2 emissions. Get around town during the MCM weekend by taking Metro. The DC Convention Center, home of the Health and Fitness Expo, is located just steps from the Mt Vernon Square/7^th Street station off the yellow or green Metro lines. On race morning, the blue and yellow lines to the Pentagon Station offer the easiest access to baggage drop-off and the start area.

SHOE-A-THON!
Not sure what to do with those athletic shoes that are passed their running prime? Donate them to the MCM Shoe-A-Thon. The MCM will be collect gently used running shoes at all 2010 events to be donated to the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network (A-SPAN), which supports people who are homeless, living on the streets or facing homelessness. Look for the Shoe-A-Thon collection boxes at the next race to make your donation.

RACE INFORMATION

Course	Finish Festival

MCM VIDEO

	Marine Corps Marathon Highlights
	Footage from the Healthy Kids Fun Run
	Check out the Health and Fitness Expo

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