Runners in the Frome Half Marathon, 10k and 5k races are being urged to take plastic waste seriously this year – and consider bringing their own water bottle to the event.
For those that need to take water bottles from the water stations, there will be cardboard boxes around the route where they can be collected for recycling.
The campaign is being supported by town councillors, district councillors, Frome Town Football Club, which hosts the race village, Sustainable Frome and many local competitors. The race organiser, who runs the event, will trial water refill points and disposable cups at some of the water points, as well as offering water bottles.
The move to reduce plastic waste is being organised by volunteer marshall and local runner Helen Johnstone. “Many runners are concerned about the levels of plastic waste at events, but may feel they can’t do much about it. This year, it should be easier than ever to do the right thing – to refill if possible, and to dispose of bottles responsibly.”
The event, on Sunday 21st July, will see more than 1,000 runners take to the streets of Frome and Nunney, many coming from across the region. Local community groups will be manning the water stations and volunteer marshalls helping to keep the roads safe. Used bottles can be left with marshalls or at any of water stations, or disposed of in collection boxes around the route.
Local competitor and co-owner at the Affinity Wellbeing gym, Katharine Roffey, said no-one should avoid taking water if they needed it. “Make sure you dispose of bottles in the boxes or with marshalls, and help look after our lovely town,” she said. Many of the gym’s members compete in the races.
All bottles collected from the event will be recycled in the UK, not shipped overseas, Mendip District Council has confirmed.
Many other events in the area have been trialling measures to cut their plastic waste. The Bath Half Marathon introduced water refill stations this year, as well as compostable cups with water, and said the moves had been very well received by their runners.
