Zero-Waste Event

89% of Waste Diverted from Landfill in 2025
16,600 pounds of Waste Diverted from Landfill in 2025
86,580 pounds diverted since 2019

 

We partner with Blue Strike Environmental on race weekend to minimize our ecological footprint and divert as much waste from the landfill as possible. Historically, our Green Team has diverted between 80% and 98% of all race weekend waste through recycling, donating, composting, and up-cycling, which is why you will not see typical garbage cans used within any marathon areas throughout race weekend. Each year, we work with about 200 amazing volunteers that are dedicated to the greening efforts of the Race, and stationed throughout the Expo, Start Line, Race Course, and Marathon Flats.

Here’s where your “garbage” goes:
● Recycling: All bottles, cans, plastic, and cardboard are recycled. Heatsheets, foil-lined wrappers, and performance nutrition packaging are also separated and up-cycled.
● Composting: Compostable items such as food waste, plates, and utensils are collected and sent to ReGen Monterey to be converted into soil which will be used in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.
● Donating: Leftover food and abandoned clothing and shoes are collected and dropped off to Shoreline Church, Last Chance Mercantile and other Monterey County nonprofit organizations.

*16,600 pounds were diverted this year through the work of our Green Team volunteers – that’s 8.7 TONS of material!

 

 

Community Impact
As shown in the infographic above, 4.32 tons of clothing, food, and other items were donated to local nonprofit agencies following this year’s marathon. Since 2022, we’ve donated over 15 tons of food and clothing to local organizations that will provide it to individuals in need. Here’s exactly where these donations make an impact in the Monterey County community: 

● All leftover food goes to Shoreline Church in Monterey, CA, and it is either distributed to individuals at their weekly food pantry or passed along to various other local food recovery organizations including:
○ Dorothy’s Kitchen, Salvation Army, The Bridge, Gathering for Women, Shuman HeartHouse, CSUMB Food Pantry, San Carlos Food Pantry, Monterey Zoo

● All discarded runner clothing is delivered to the Last Chance Mercantile in Marina, CA, with all profits going to the Veterans Transition Center to support houseless and previously incarcerated veterans.

We rely on the help of roughly 2,500 community volunteers to produce the Big Sur International Marathon and related race weekend events. Each year, Community Partnership for Youth, a local nonprofit aimed at protecting children from violence, crime, and drugs, provides a group of dedicated volunteers for our Green Team. The Green Team offers an avenue for CPY volunteers to learn about green initiatives and sustainability, all while earning funds in the form of grant donations from the Big Sur Marathon Foundation.

Since our first race in 1986, the Big Sur Marathon Foundation has given over $6.4 million to Monterey County nonprofits.