July 5th, 2009 LA Marathon earns eco-certification
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Bruce in
News Athletes for a Fit Planet provides consulting and on-the-ground support to help the LA Marathon achieve certification to the Council for Responsible Sport standard
Athletes for a Fit Planet is pleased to announce that the Los Angeles Marathon has earned certification to the Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) standard, the leading environmental standard for athletic events in the US. The LA Marathon is the largest marathon to date to achieve CRS certification.
“We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with the LA Marathon to support their efforts to go green,” said Bruce Rayner, Founder and Chief Green Officer of Athletes for a Fit Planet. “The commitment of time and resources the LA Marathon team made to the process was significant. They have set the bar very high for other large events to aim for.”
FitPlanet worked with the LA Marathon to ensure the race earned 26 out of a possible 41 CRS credits in six categories: Waste, Climate, Equipment & Materials, Community & Outreach, Health Promotion, and Innovation.
Here are some of the results the LA Marathon achieved:
1. Reduced landfill waste to less than half a pound per athlete.
2. Runners received an online “virtual” goodie bag promoting race sponsors that eliminated the need to print about 1 million pieces of paper.
3. Provided “green” portable toilets at the start and finish that used non-toxic chemicals and recycled paper.
4. Incinerated and converted to electricity all the aid-station cups to show that refuse-to-energy is a viable alternative to landfill.
5. Encouraged runners to rideshare or use public transportation to get to and from the expo and the race in order to reduce carbon emissions.
6. Raised awareness of and funds for Heal the Bay, the official environmental charity of the LA Marathon that strives to make Southern California coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean.
“All running events should think seriously about undertaking this process,” said Nick Curl, the LA Marathon Race Director. “While we significantly decreased the environmental impact of the LA Marathon, the experience also encouraged us to build a stronger relationship with our community based on a shared belief that we can do well by doing good.”
In addition to the LA Marathon, 10 other races have earned certification to the CRS standard to date, three of which are FitPlanet clients: Marin County Triathlon, San Rafael CA; Portland Urban Epic, Portland ME; and the Nashua 10K Run for Food and Shelter, Nashua NH. FitPlanet is currently working with a number of events to help them achieve CRS certification in 2009.
