Ironman Events Chooses Waste Management to Reduce Waste, Increase Recycling

In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of its triathlon events, World Triathlon Corporation’s Ironman Series of events has chosen Waste Management as its official environmental solutions provider for all events throughout the US, the company announced.

Waste Management says it will work with Ironman event organizers to develop solutions for reducing waste and increasing recycling at each race.

The waste management company says it offers event services such as renewable energy alternatives, water conservation techniques and new technologies to recover the resource in waste. It will work with Ironman to control materials allowed into the event to ensure they can be reused, recycled or composted; use volunteers to educate race attendees; monitor recycling and compost receptacles; engage with the community and communicate goals to all stakeholders; track carbon footprints; and report on sustainability efforts.

Ironman COO, Shane Facteau, says that it is important for Ironman to be “environmentally responsible and take care of the cities that host our events.”

The Ironman series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world, the company says, having grown from a single race to more than 190 events across five brands.

The Phoenix Open PGA golf tournament also worked with Waste Management as its title sponsor. Waste Management says that during the 2013 event,  it sent zero waste to landfill from more than half a million people who attended. The Waste Management Phoenix Open also purchased 100% renewable energy, used graywater in portable toilets, and achieved GOLD certification from the Council for Responsible Sport.

One of Waste Management’s efforts for the Phoenix Open is the annual Waste Management “Green Out,” an event that asks all fans attending the event to wear something green to show their support for the green/eco-sensitive efforts of the tournament. For every person who wears green, tournament host Thunderbirds donates money to three nonprofit organizations. In 2013, the organizations were Keep Phoenix Beautiful, which received 50% of the funds, Arizona Forward (35%) and Keep America Beautiful (15%). Waste Management says that in 2012, almost a third of the tournament’s fans wore green, and nearly all PGA tour pros donned green gear. The event raised $50,000 for Keep Phoenix Beautiful.

Other event partners that have chosen Waste Management as their environmental solutions provider include the Houston Marathon, the Shell Houston Open, and the Valero Texas Open.