PITTSBURGH, PA (June 6, 2019) – The 2019 DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh weekend of events once again was a “zero waste” event with 93% of the event’s waste diverted from landfills. This is the sixth year in a row the event has successfully diverted 90 percent or more of its waste from landfills. International standards define “zero waste” as reaching a diversion rate of 90 percent or above.
More than 40,000 runners, 4,000 volunteers and 300,000 spectators were part of this year’s weekend of events, which took place from May 3-5. P3R, the organizers of the race, successfully recycled, reused or composted approximately 43,946 pounds of waste generated by the event that would have otherwise gone to the landfill.
Since 2011, P3R has worked with Zero Waste Pennsylvania, a project of the Pennsylvania Resources Council, to create a comprehensive Zero Waste Program at every stage of race weekend. From the start line through the finish line festival, waste is collected and sorted so that as much material as possible is reused, composted or recycled.
“It takes a village to produce the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon each year, and achieving our sustainability goals would not be possible without the support and dedication from our staff, volunteers and community partners,” said incoming P3R CEO Troy Schooley.
P3R works with several community organizations to achieve the race’s sustainability initiatives. Peoples Natural Gas is the Official Partner of the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Greening and Sustainability Initiatives. Examples of the community effort that made this year’s zero waste event happen include:
- More 21,610 pounds of items that were discarded at fluid stations and the finish line, including 60,000 water bottle and 30,000 mylar blankets, were picked up by volunteers and collected by the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Environmental Services and recycled.
- 8,839 pounds of compostable material collected during the weekend, including 32,000 banana peels and 480,000 cups, was sorted and sent to a local farm for composting.
- 2,595 pounds of clothing items left behind by runners at the start line was collected by volunteers and donated to Goodwill.
- 10,091 pounds of leftover food was donated to the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank.
- Pennsylvania Resources Council staff monitored waste stations at the event to prevent contamination and help educate runners, volunteers, and spectators.
For more information, go to: ThePittsburghMarathon.com
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About the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon weekend of events
The Pittsburgh Marathon was held annually from 1985-2003. After a five-year hiatus, the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon was relaunched in 2009 and debuted with a sold-out field of 10,000 participants. It has grown each year since, evolving from a single race day into a weekend of events for the whole family that annually attracts nearly 40,000 runners. The event will host the USATF Half Marathon Championships for the second year in a row in 2019 and is a qualifier for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. Read more at: ThePittsburghMarathon.com
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About P3R
P3R is the engine behind Pittsburgh’s greatest races. We strive to inspire any and all to run with us. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, P3R runs a variety of other high-quality races, events, and health and fitness programs throughout the Pittsburgh region. While many of our races attract some of the nation’s highest-profile professional athletes, we offer activities for all ages and ability levels. Anyone and everyone is invited to #RUNwithP3R! Read more at: P3R.org
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