Our Efforts
Sustainability Efforts
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/). This year, 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:
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. Thank you for helping us achieve 90% diversion again last year – we could not do this without you!
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 throughout the staging area of the race
- 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 volunteers
- 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
- Collecting and donating all discarded clothing on the course to local organizations
- Upcycling heat sheets
- Composting all food waste and other organic materials, including cups
- Recycling water bottles
Some of our other sustainability initiatives include:
- Procuring water from a local source
- Since 2010, donating 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
We encourage all participants to visit locally owned businesses in the Washington metropolitan area during race weekend.
