Our Efforts
Sustainability Efforts
The organizers of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile have long prioritized sustainability as a core part of its mission, implementing a range of environmentally conscious practices to reduce its ecological footprint. The race incorporates eco-friendly initiatives such as offering digital race packets to cut down on paper waste and using compostable Gatorade cups at on-course aid stations. Two “Water Monster” water tanks located at the race site provide water for runners to refill personal water bottles in an effort to reduce the number of plastic water bottles and cups at the event. Volunteers staff sustainability tables throughout the race site, sorting such items as as banana peels, plastic water bottles, snack packaging etc., which can be composted or recycled. The Sustainability Team receives weight slips from the trash company noting the weights of recyclable items and those items labeled as trash. Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, the weight of the trash goes down every year. Additionally, we encourage public transportation through relationships with the DC Metro system, bike commuting by providing secure bike valet services and transit-friendly logistics. These efforts reflect the race’s commitment to environmental stewardship while promoting health, fitness, and community engagement.
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
- Again in 2026, we will be donating to charity: water, our Sustainability Impact Partner. Clean water is a vital defense against climate change for rural communities in the world’s poorest regions. It helps people maintain their health, hygiene, and ability to recover when disaster strikes. We will be working with charity: water to bring clean water to people around the world. With a radically transparent model that sends 100% of public donations to the field, charity: water works with local partners to develop and deliver sustainable water projects and improve sanitation and hygiene facilities in communities of greatest need. With a donation of $5, you can bring 5,500 liters of clean water to a community – equivalent to the 23,000 bottles of water served at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom. Your donation of $5 will enable over 20,000 people to have clean, safe water for drinking, cooking and washing.
We encourage all participants to visit locally owned businesses in the Washington metropolitan area during race weekend.
