Hood to Coast Relay

AT A GLANCE

EVENT TYPE: The world’s largest overnight, long distance relay race

ATTENDANCE: 18,000 relay participants, estimated 60,000 attendees at finish line party

DURATION: 3 days

GOALS:

WASTE

ENGAGMENT

Evolve the Hood to Coast brand by focusing on the commitment to a new comprehensive waste prevention program for 2019 and beyond
Increase waste reduction efforts via stakeholder engagement in an integrated communication strategy

RECOVERY RATE: 22%

Consulted on goals, logistical requirements, designed strategy
Provided a team of waste warriors to sort through all waste in order to remove contaminants from the recycling stream and recyclable material from the landfill stream
Track metrics including resource recovery, waste generated per person, plastic water bottles avoided, and value of redemption bottles donated to community groups

Consulted on goals, created an integrated communications strategy
Develop messaging, wrote content, and provide design support for event participant handbook, website, social media posts, e-blasts, and volunteer communications
Designed an online sustainable behavior pledge aimed to encourage participants to uses a reusable water jug and reusable bottles in replacement of single use disposable plastic water bottles

Increase quantity of recycle bins available to participants
Establish partnership with community groups for redemption bottle fundraising opportunity
Provide bulk water at volunteer stations instead of single use plastic bottles
Source paper, rather than plastic, finish line water cups
Sort through all recycling to eliminate contamination risk, sort through landfill material to recover recyclables

Participants

Through participant handbook, website, e-blasts, and social media, communicate to participants about the event’s efforts and top three most impactful ways they can participate in waste reduction efforts:
Design a sustainable behavior pledge, encouraging participants to use a refillable jug and water bottle in replacement of single use disposable bottles in relay vans
Create hashtag #racemorerunless to encourage social sharing about pledge commitment
Design a sorting guide for tips on reducing waste and sorting recycling from landfill waste at exchange points
Distribute printed sorting guide and recycling bag at packet pickup, encouraging participants to sort their recycling from landfill material

Volunteers

Create training messaging and guidelines for exchange & finish line volunteers on responsibilities associated with resource recovery efforts

Food and Beverage / Catering

Create guidelines communicating tips for reducing waste and how to sort recycling from waste generated at concessions areas

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