Zeroing in on waste at Krispy Kreme Challenge

Krispy Kreme Challenge compost zero waste
Hundreds of doughnut boxes, paper cups and doughnut remains will be composted at the Krispy Kreme Challenge, making this campus event zero waste.

Maybe you’ve heard of the number one tradition to complete before graduating from NC State. It’s the ultimate test of physical fitness and gastrointestinal fortitude known as the Krispy Kreme Challenge.

On this Saturday, Feb. 9, up to 8,000 people will embark on a road race like none other – running five miles and eating a dozen hot glazed doughnuts in less than an hour.

But what you may not know are the efforts to ensure that the only trace this event leaves is on the pint size patients at North Carolina Children’s Hospital, which receives proceeds from the race.  The Challenge’s organizers have challenged themselves to make the event zero-waste, meaning no event waste ends up in local landfills.

With the help of NC State’s Waste Reduction and Recycling, paper cups and doughnut boxes that racers drop along the race route will be composted. Reusable coolers are used instead of Styrofoam coolers. Any of the 96,000 doughnuts left uneaten will be donated or composted. Even shrink wrap will be recycled.

In the past two Krispy Kreme Challenges, nearly 7,400 pounds of waste has been diverted from the landfill through composting efforts. As a Wolfpack Certified Green event, these zero-waste efforts will continue at the 2013 Challenge.

So, during this year’s Challenge, cheer not just for the racers but also for the Wolfpack of committed composters coming behind them.