Bengaluru goes zero-waste

A report by waste management consultants Saahas certified last year’s event on 21 October as “zero waste”, meaning that of the 3000kg of waste produced, a mere 8kg had to go to landfill.

Measures taken at the race to improve sustainability included serving food and drinks in reusable plates and glasses rather than using disposable packaging. Packaging was also reduced by using a buffet of fresh hot food instead of pre-prepared meals.

Race organisers NEB Sports partnered with Saahas to help effectively manage the waste stream. Saahas staff were deployed on site on the day to ensure segregation of waste at source, avoiding cross-contamination. Dry waste was transported to Saahas’ recycling facility while compostable waste (mostly leftover food) went for biogas generation.