Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Green Page
We'll be celebrating the 21st anniversary of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon by making it the greenest race ever, thanks to the support from Aquafina and Athletes for a Fit Planet. We encourage you to join us in our efforts to be as eco-friendly as possible — in your travels, at the Expo, on the course, and at the post-race celebration in Nathan Phillips Square.
Here are some of the things we are doing to go green...
RECYCLING FROM START TO FINISH
This year we are being extra conscientious in our recycling efforts. Turtle Island Recycling will be collecting and sorting all cardboard, plastics and other recyclables at the start, all the water stations on the course, and at the finish. Our Neighbourhood Cheering & Entertainment sites at Kew Gardens in The Beach and at Berczy Park in St. Lawrence Market area will also have strong recycling initiatives with separate bins for recycling, compost and garbage, plus flags and information. Please do your part and deposit your plastic water bottles in the Aquafina recycling bins in Nathan Phillips Square.
COMPOSTING THE PAPER CUPS AND FOOD
This year, the 250,000 Gatorade and Aquafina cups you'll be using on the course are certified as compostable. So Turtle Island will be collecting and composting them. Also, we'll have compost bins in Nathan Phillips Square located next to the Aquafina recycling bins for you to deposit your banana skins, orange peels, and other food waste.
REUSABLE GOODIE BAGS
No more disposable plastic goodie bags! At registration this year you'll get a Scotiabank reusable tote bag that contains your bib number, chip, and other materials.
REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
We encourage all runners, family, friends and spectators to share a ride or take public transportation to the expo and to the race. If 10,000 runners all drove 20 miles, we'd produce about 100 tons of CO2. That's because every mile you drive produces about one pound of carbon dioxide. So carpooling and public transport can dramatically reduce our footprint.
While the subway does NOT operate in Toronto until after 9am on Sundays, there are regular All Night buses on major routes like Yonge Street [one block East of Race Start/Finish at Bay & Queen]; plus regular Streetcars on the King St., Queen St., Dundas St., East-West routes. IMPORTANT to note that the last East-West Queen and King streetcars will be allowed to cross Bay St [the race route] at 6:30am — so they provide a great way to get TO the Marathon & Half Start; after, you have options of going home on the subway from either the Yonge/Queen station or the University Avenue/Queen [Osgoode] station. Fares: $2.75 per trip; or you can purchase a DAY PASS. Details of routes and fares at www3.ttc.ca.
For all inquiries regarding TTC service on race day: www3.ttc.ca or call (416) 393-INFO (4636).
For getting to both the Expo and Waterfront 5K Start at the Direct Energy Centre by public transit, click here.
Don't have access to a ride or public transport? Then consider using Pickuppal. It's free and exclusive to the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. You can ask for or offer a ride.
Read about some of the things the City of Toronto is doing to become a world-leader in Green initiatives: www.toronto.ca/environment/initiatives/ and www.toronto.ca/garbage/.
