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Feature
THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
Since Modern Athlete magazine launched the # runclean campaign in 2015, the topic of litter, or more specifically, the dropping of used water sachets and cups on the road, has become one of the most prominent talking points in South African running circles. However, there is still much work to be done! – BY SEAN FALCONER
Go online these days after a road running event and chances are you’ ll find a whole conversation on Facebook about the litter in that race – either saying that the roads were actually quite clean by normal standards, or that once again there were many runners just tossing their litter without a care, and that something needs to be done about their attitude.
The point is that litter has become one of the most discussed topics in road running, and it is eliciting some very strong reactions from the running community. This is thanks not only to the # runclean campaign, but also the collective anti-litter efforts by various runners, organisers and provincial bodies, which has seen many runners already stop littering as a result of this increased awareness of the scope of the problem … but some continue to just toss their used sachets on or beside the road.
In 2017, the goal of the campaign is thus to continue educating the running community about cleaning up the sport, by continually reminding runners to think before they throw, because every piece of plastic not dumped on the road is a step in the right direction. This will not only lead to less ugly litter on the roads, but in the long run also to less non-degradable waste ending up in the sensitive environment or the oceans.
Unite to # runclean
Modern Athlete is therefore continuing to call on all runners to join the campaign, and there are some very simple ways for athletes to # runclean:
• Throw all water sachets or cups in a rubbish bin, or carry them until you find a bin. They weigh nothing and will not slow you down!
• Wear running kit with a pocket for used sachets, or make a pocket with your running licence number.
• Carry your own water in a hydration pack or belt, so you don’ t need to use sachets.
• Promote a no littering rule at all times. If you see fellow runners littering, try to diplomatically suggest a cleaner attitude going forwards.
• Volunteer to help clean up at a water table at a race – after that you are unlikely ever to litter again!
• Share your # runclean experience at www. facebook. com / runclean or mail it to letters @ modernathlete. co. za.
Free Bins to all Runclean Events!
The # runclean campaign also promotes a no littering policy by providing free bins, bin liners and rubbish bags to registered # runclean events, in conjunction with Garbie Bins( East Rand Plastics). Since the launch of this element of the # runclean campaign in June 2016, more than 60 events around the country have received bins, with many runners noticing the increase in bins at races. This resulted in less litter being left on the roads, and is often mentioned in those Facbook conversations about the litter issue.
Running events can easily register to become a # runclean event and request the free bins and bags to be delivered to their event, by using the sign-up link on www. facebook. com / runclean. Organisers need to make sure they sign up three weeks before race day, say how many bins they need, and Garbie will deliver the bins, liners and bags, all free of charge. In exchange, organisers must commit to anti-litter measures at their event, by actively promoting a no littering attitude to entrants, through all possible means. Only by highlighting it will we begin to solve the littering problem.
Why we need to solve this problem …
Litter is a major problem throughout South Africa, with non-degradable plastic strewn all over the natural environment, choking rivers, being consumed by or suffocating animals, and turning the oceans and beaches into a huge rubbish dump. Every time runners dump their plastic sachets in the road, at least some end up in the natural environment, especially if thrown far from the road by runners or when the wind blows, because these cannot all be cleared by the race’ s clean-up teams, no matter how hard they work.
As a result, some event organisers have already been told by municipal or environmental officials that the runners are no longer welcome to race in those areas, due to their habit of littering, leaving the place looking a mess, and damaging the environment, and other evetns are under immense pressure to clean up their act or face huge fines, perhaps even cancellation. Therefore, it is imperative that athletes stop littering, before it leads to negative consequences for the sport, so think before you throw – # runclean!
Images: Two Oceans, Tobias Ginsberg, Mogamat Shahmieg Allie, Estelle Kock, Des Harris
20 ISSUE 92 MARCH 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za