FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Julie Armstrong, Marketing Communications Director
831-625-6226 / Julie@bsim.org
Big Sur Marathon Continues Strong Green Program
Dozens of Volunteers Contribute to Program’s Success
Nearly 200 volunteers from five local groups will amass more than 1,000 hours in efforts to keep
the Big Sur International Marathon among the ‘greenest’ major endurance events in the country.
On race weekend, teams from Habitat for Humanity, Girls Inc., Community Partnership for
Youth, Monterey Peninsula College Child Development Center and the Pacific Grove Wrestling Team
educate, gather, sort, drive, and do the dirty job of separating food and compostable materials from
trash and recyclable materials. Last year, their efforts resulted in a 96% diversion rate, keeping
materials from our landfills and providing materials for reuse.
Since its early days, the Big Sur Marathon has worked to reduce waste and offer a clean, green
course. In 2009, the organization stepped up its green efforts. Partnering with The Offset Project, a local
non–profit focused on reducing carbon emissions, the Big Sur Marathon has implemented a variety of
programs and pioneered practices that helped the Big Sur Marathon earn one of first “Gold”
certifications from a national monitoring organization..
Some of these initiatives include offering a virtual goody bag, 100% online (vs. paper)
registration, composting race food, sourcing 'green' products, offering water refills instead of single-use
cups, providing ride sharing opportunities and more.
‘Upcycling’ efforts include the recycling of heat sheets into Trex™ wood-alternative
decking and railing products, donating packing Styrofoam to be recycled into surfboards and
sending additional materials to Terra Cycle for repurposing into purses and reusable bags.
The marathon also added a new “r” to the popular “reduce, reuse and recycle” motto.
Now, it’s “reduce, reuse, recycle and rot,” as the volunteer green team focuses on composting
the majority of its waste. This includes food scraps as well as compostable flatware, coffee cups
and other products.
Kristin Cushman, owner of The Offset Project and head of the Big Sur Marathon’s green
team says, “Though the number of special events spearheading waste diversion programs is
growing, the Big Sur International Marathon was one of the first in the nation to achieve a 96%
diversion rate. Big Sur has led the way in its diligence and practices toward doing all they can to
have a sustainable event.”