Sustainability
The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is committed to environmental and social sustainability and has achieved Gold Level Inspire Status for our efforts by the Council for Responsible Sport (http://www.councilforresponsiblesport.org/). In 2021, we will continue to make strides and implement additional techniques to make the event even more sustainable, and you can help!
Credit Union Cherry Blossom Sustainability Efforts in the News:
Continuting for 2021: Sustainable Sundays!
As part of our ongoing communication, we are excited to continue "Sustainability Sunday," which was introduced for the first time in 2019. Each Sunday leading up to race weekend, you can learn something new about our efforts to host a sustainable event. Follow us on social media for a weekly dose of inspiration!
For the latest sustainability information:
- Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreditUnionCherryBlossom/
- Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CUCB
- Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cucb/
Cherry Blossom Sustainability by the Numbers
#CUCB generates approximately 10 tons of waste each year, but thanks to participants and volunteers we're able to prevent approximately 90% of it from going to the landfill or incinerator! We will share more about our plans related to waste diversion via social media over the next few #sustainabilitysundays. Thank you for helping us achieve 90% diversion again last year - we could not do this without you! Check out the great waste diversion statistics from #CUCB2019 below:
- More than 100 pounds of plastic that a local elementary school collected as part of a Trex Company competition
- 20 cases of bananas donated to a local pantry
- 750 pounds of clothing left at the start line donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of National Capital Area
- Several bags of heat sheets sent to Trex Company for decking and other items
- 5 boxes of granola bar wrappers and plastic spoons to TerraCycle for repurposing
- Nearly 2,000 pounds of banana peels, food waste from the Expo, and other compostables to Veteran Compost
- 7 boxes of donated shoes to the MORE Foundation
- Plus, more than 15,000 pounds of plastic bottles, cardboard, cottage cheese containers and other recyclable materials recycled!
You can help us be more sustainable on race weekend by doing the following:
- Use our free bike valet to travel to and from the expo and race
- Help us divert waste from the landfill and incinerator by dropping all recyclable and compostable items at waste stations at the expo and throughout the staging area of the race
- Look for volunteers in green-colored GREEN TEAM vests who can help direct you where to dispose of recyclables, compost and trash
- Help us keep our city clean by not dropping items such as clothing or food wrappers on the ground along the course – there will be places to properly dispose of these items in the staging area
- Give your old running shoes new life by donating them at the Expo
Some of our efforts to reduce waste include:
- Implementing paperless registration for both race participants and volunteer
- Providing virtual goodie bags
- Providing medals only if participants opt in
- Collecting used running shoes at the expo for donation
- Encouraging expo and race vendors to minimize and recycle packaging
- Donating unused food to local food banks
- Collecting and donating all discarded clothing on the course to local organizations
- Upcycling heat sheets through Blankets to Boards: (https://www.heatsheets.com/blankets-to-boards)
- Composting all food waste and other organic materials, including cups
- Recycling water bottles
- Collecting and recycling granola bar and other wrappers and films separately so they can be recycled through special programs
- Working with the General Services Administration (GSA), to help make the expo at the National Building Museum a green event by helping to maximize recycling and composting and minimizing trash to the landfill or incinerator
Our goal is to divert a minimum of 75% of waste on race weekend.
You Can Help!
As a reminder, on race weekend we ask that you only deposit waste at the designated waste stations at the Expo when picking up your packet and at the race. These stations will be easy to find, and your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Some of our other sustainability initiatives include:
- Encouraging the use of Metro to travel home from the race and offering a free bike valet parking area
- Procuring water from a local source
- Since 2010, donating more than $45,000 to Native Energy (http://www.nativeenergy.com/) to offset the carbon footprint of runners traveling to DC for the event
- Working with under-represented groups and non-profit organizations, such as Teens Run DC (http://www.teensrundc.org/), to reduce barriers to participation in our event
- Encouraging participants to visit locally owned businesses in the Washington metropolitan area during race weekend
