Community

Sustainability

It takes hard work and planning to produce a sustainable event for over 25,000 athletes, but the Los Angeles Marathon is committed to taking all the steps necessary to reduce waste, promote responsible consumption, and support the local community. Check out some highlights of our green event initiatives below.

Council for Responsible Sport Certification

This year, we are applying for re-certification to the Council for Responsible Sport, an organization that independently verifies the social and environmental initiatives of sporting events. During our last certification year in 2022, we  achieved Gold status according to  Version 4.3 of the Responsible Sport Standards, and the event earned all 50 of the 50 credit points applied for. Certified since 2015, the Los Angeles Marathon is among the top ten longest-standing certified events in the world. We could not do this without the support of our participants, volunteers, community groups, and partners who come together to help make a difference.

We focus our efforts in the following areas:

Waste Diversion: In an effort to reduce our environmental footprint, we implement a comprehensive waste diversion system across the Los Angeles Marathon course.  At the Start and the Finish Lines, be on the lookout for compost, recycling, and landfill bins with signage describing what items should go where – and Green Team volunteers who will be serving as educational ambassadors. At the Finish Line, we’ll also have special bins dedicated to collecting used heatsheets, which will be recycled by our local partner.

Donations: We’re committed to being a good neighbor and supporting our host community. That’s why we take every opportunity to donate to local organizations. At the Start Line, we collect and donate all clothing discarded by runners. At the Finish Line, we collect and donate leftover food and unused heatsheets. In 2024, we donated over 8,000 pounds of clothing to Hope the Mission and 100% of leftover Finish Line food to the LA Regional Food Bank.

Bulk Water Stations: We’re proud to be working with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to deploy bulk water towers across our water stations – in lieu of plastic jugs. Water towers are large tanks that pull and filter tap water from hydrants or water trucks.  The partnership displaces over 19,000 plastic jugs.

Renewable Energy Pilot Program: To advance our commitment to reducing energy emissions, this year’s Finish Line will feature battery storage units and a solar array.

How Can You Support? Here are some of the ways that you can support the event’s sustainability initiatives:

• Volunteer for the Green Team: Want to help us reach our sustainability goals and reduce the environmental impact of the event? Sign up as a Green Team volunteer! Volunteers will be stationed throughout the Finish Line area to help runners, attendees, and vendors understand how to dispose of recyclables, compostable items, and landfill waste. To sign up, click here and select the “E2 Sun Finish Line Main Shift.”
• Think Before You Throw: Pay attention to waste diversion signage at the Start and Finish Lines. Take a moment to consider what goes where:
  • COMPOST:  Food, Liquid, Wet Paper
  • RECYCLING: Plastic, Aluminum Cans, Glass Bottles, Dry Cardboard
  • HEATSHEET RECYCLING: Used Heatsheets
  • LANDFILL: Plastic Utensils, Chip Bags, Plastic Wrappers, Styrofoam
• Visit Our Green Booth: Every year, local environmental organizations are featured at the Los Angeles Marathon’s Lifestyle Expo. Check out the Green Booth at this year’s Expo to learn how you can support local climate action.
• Take Public Transportation: Jump on a Metro train or bus to get around Los Angeles! Check out Metro’s website for current train and bus schedules.
• Go Green in Your Hotel Room: Be sure to take advantage of towel and sheet reuse initiatives that may be offered by your hotel. Don’t forget to turn off all lights and electronics when you leave your room each day.
• Take Steps to Lower Your Personal Carbon Footprint: Use the UN “Lifestyle” carbon footprint calculator to discover your own carbon footprint and gain insights into how you can make climate-smart decisions in your daily life. Check your carbon footprint.