In 2009 Bloomsday began working on ways to reduce the waste and consumption that are part of staging a community running celebration for nearly 50,000 people. This was dubbed our "Getting Greener” initiative. This was over and above past successes that included over 70% of participants taking advantage of online registration, over 16,780 rides to and from Bloomsday on STA shuttles in 2008, hundreds of cyclists taking advantage of the Spokane Bicycle Club's Bike Corral, recycling of single-use plastic water bottles, and a yearly donation of discarded clothing to charity.

On top of these ongoing successes, since 2009 Bloomsday has expanded our sustainability efforts:

• Sending over a ton of of discarded water cups to be composted each year.
• Collecting hundreds of pounds of cardboard to be recycled each year.
• Removing an increasing percentage of total waste (cups, cardboard, plastic bottles) to be composted or recycled.
• Helping increase STA's Bloomsday Express Service.
• Reducing printed brochures by 50% since 2007, and now using paper made from 100% post-consumer waste, printed with non-petroleum, soy-based inks.
• Increasing online registration from 70% to over 87% of total registrations.
• Encouraging recycling at Safeway Stores of plastic "goodie bags” bags given out at Check-In. Excess bags not distributed at Check-In have been donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank to facilitate their distribution of food to needy families.
• Working with Spokane Convention Center employees in encouraging recycling by Bloomsday Trade Show exhibitors.
• Expanding access to recycling in the downtown core by providing a greater number of ClearStream receptacles through a cooperative effort with Hoopfest and the City of Spokane.
• Composting food waste in the post-race area.
• Earning ReSport Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport.

Please support these and other ongoing Bloomsday efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. Here are 12 steps you can take to become a greener runner:

• Run or walk more, drive less—run or walk errands, or run or walk to work.
• Bike or carpool to races or group training runs.
• Drink less bottled water—drink tap water or use a water filter.
• Carry water in a reusable bottle.
• Pick up litter while you run or walk.
• Encourage your training group to help keep Spokane green.
• Support healthy community initiatives that encourage fitness.
• Only do full loads of laundry, wash with cold water and hang clothes to dry.
• Buy locally grown and organic produce.
• Ride the STA shuttle or bike to and from downtown on Bloomsday.
• Recycle the goodie bag you receive at Bloomsday Check-In at any Safeway store.
• Set up recycling equipment (free of charge) at your next public event. For details, contact Event Recycling at the City of Spokane.