Beach To Beacon 10K: Greener Than Ever

The race includes recycling and composting from start to finish.

The TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10-K is going greener.  Organizers of the August 6, race in Cape Elizabeth, Me., said that they will be improving on their 2010 recycling and composting programs, part of a comprehensive effort to reduce their environmental impact.

Race organizers have set a goal to exceed last year’s impressive greening effort, which boasted a 58 percent “diversion rate” –-recycling plus compost-– of all waste generated, reducing landfill waste to 0.7 pounds per runner.  “We believe strongly in our obligation to Maine and to the local community of Cape Elizabeth to reduce our environmental impact,” said Joan Samuelson, the Maine native and Olympic gold medalist who founded the race.  “We have a top notch program in place, thanks in large part to our green corporate sponsor, Fairchild Semiconductor, and are confident we can continue to lead the way in showcasing efforts that can be made at running events and in people’s daily lives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

The race’s environmental efforts include recycling and composting from start to finish, collecting and recycling plastic bottles, using eco-friendly portable toilets, eliminating paper registration, offering shared rides to the race, and other initiatives.