To race is our favourite way to play. On two wheels or two feet, fast and furious or slow and pounding, nothing beats taking on a new outdoor playground.
Five years ago we started asking ourselves how racing could be a force for good on our trails. Instead of a reputation of heavy bass, single-use pollution and environmental damage, could events:
Look after the trails that host them?
Connect with
local communities?
Inspire attendees to
do the same at home?
This is what Trash Free Races hopes to achieve. Together with event organisers, athletes and spectators, we're reimagining how the events we love can give back to our trails.
WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OUTDOOR PLAYGROUNDS
Discover where we're going!
This summer we’re packing our vans, hitting the road and heading to some of the outdoor race calendar’s most beloved dates to meet you.
.png)
.png)
More coming soon! Check back here for updates throughout the season.
What we hope to achieve
Each event we’re attending is taking on the challenge to be ‘Trash Free’, showcasing how environmental stewardship can take on all shapes and sizes.
Our presence at each event is unique, celebrating every trail and everyone that uses them. We’re calling on riders, runners, and roamers to Leave A Positive Trace. With their help, we’re encouraging the entire events ecosystem to do their bit and take part in ways that make sense for them and their sport.
Making race events more sustainable is no simple task - we’re on hand to support organisers to reduce their single-use footprint and help attendees connect with the places they visit.
LEAVE MORE THAN JUST TRACKS
I'm 'just' an attendee, how can I help?
The success of a Trash Free Race depends on everyone mucking in to help prevent and remove single-use pollution - we call this DIO (doing it ourselves!).
While at an event, you can also take note and celebrate changes event organisers have made to reduce their single-use footprint.
Use recycling bins across the event site
Go to refillable water stations
Bring re-useable food packaging
Pick up as you go! ​A pocketful, handful, or a bin bag full - it all adds up. Every piece of single-use pollution (litter) you remove, counts. Be sure to submit your findings, just takes a couple minutes wherever you are!
​
Send an email! ​​Are you heading to an event that wasn't on our map? Why not lead the charge for that event to be a Trash Free Race! Give them a little nudge with this email template to get the ball rolling.
CLEANING TRAILS IS
LIGHT WORK
How do I make my event a Trash Free Race?
Every event relies on incredible places and the communities that call them home. Creating a Trash Free Race is a simple way to give something back.​
By setting the right tone and getting everyone involved, you can reduce single-use pollution (SUP), build trust with landowners and local communities, and ensure your event leaves a positive mark for the right reasons.​
At the very least, nothing is left behind. At best, the place is cleaner because you were there.
Follow our 5 Steps to Create a Trash Free Race!
Set the
standard early
'This is a Trash Free Race; nothing is left behind.'
Get your crew to
lead the way
Equip them with the information, inspiration and tools to do their bit.
Bring partners &
vendors with you
Make clear in pre-event information what they can do
Reduce what
comes in
The easiest waste to manage is the waste that never arrives.
Activate your
participants
Ask every attendee to pledge to reduce their own single-use footprint.
Have a question or want to go even further? Email our team on hello@trashfreetrails.org with you inquiries and ideas!
I thought you guys did something for races already?
In 2020, we created a sustainable event accreditation scheme called TFT Approved. Totally new to the “industry” and alien to the eNGO space, we thought it was a no brainer. But 5 years later, we couldn't have imagined how much impact it has had.
​
From planning to race day and pack down, the guidance included practical, affordable and simple ideas on how to reduce your environmental impact with a focus on reducing single-use product reliance, so event organisers could focus on delivering the best experience possible while protecting the places that host them.
​
Learn more about the story of TFT Approved on our blog.
Thank you to our Trash Free Races Partners
