Sustainability was in the spotlight at this year’s Old Bill’s Fun Run, with volunteers and local organizations helping divert hundreds of pounds of waste from the landfill through reuse, composting and recycling.
Teton County Integrated Solid Waste & Recycling (ISWR) would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the many partners and volunteers who helped reduce the event’s environmental impact, demonstrated ongoing commitment to conservation, and made strides on Teton County’s Road to Zero Waste goal of reducing the amount of trash going to the landfill by 2030. Thanks to expanded collaboration and increased focus on sustainability measures, the event achieved a waste diversion rate of 57%, a significant increase over last year’s 23%.
Total landfill-bound waste dropped by more than half — from 418.6 pounds in 2024 to just 194.1 pounds this year.
Special thanks to:
- The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, for coordinating waste reduction efforts across Run Committee teams, providing reusable napkins and obtaining recyclable aluminum cups to replace single-use plastics. Special credit also goes to the Food & Beverage Acquisition and Prep teams.
- Vibrant Events’ Zero Waste Project initiative, for providing reusable dishware and managing the washing station, which helped divert hundreds of items — such as paper cups, napkins, plates and plastic spoons — from the landfill compared to previous years.
- About 20 Recycling & Waste Team volunteers, who supported recycling and trash station setup, education, take-down and waste measurement across the venue.
- Westbank Sanitation and Jackson Hole Curbside Recycling, for providing recycling, compost and trash bins used at multiple public recycling and waste stations.
- Teton County Parks and Recreation, for providing the water-bottle refilling station used for the event to cut down on single-use cups and plastic water bottles.
- Hole Food Rescue, for collecting and redistributing leftover snacks to benefit the broader community.
- All participating nonprofits and walkers/runners, for doing their respective parts to help eliminate trash going to the landfill.
“Events like Old Bill’s show what’s possible when Jackson Hole comes together — walking the talk to protect what makes this place so special,” said Cindy Harger, Teton County ISWR Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator.
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