I don't know whether this has been discussed much, but how can USMS support "going green," promoting and/or being supportive of being environmentally responsible for clean water to swim in as well as to drink?
Open Water swims, of course, are the perfect venues to remind us all to keep our waters clean for swimming. The Boston swim focuses on this; do other Open Water swims promote cleaner water? What do they do?
Can pool Masters swimmers, clubs, LMSCs promote being "greener"? Encouraging people to take shorter showers is one way. What are other ways?
I think it is a fine idea and good opportunity for USMS to promote this particular aspect of the environment. By the way, all the Great Lakes are down several inches, except for Lake Superior (where, at the moment, we don't have Open Water swims...but who knows, in the future???).
Jennifer Parks, Michigan Masters
Parents
Former Member
When you attend meets do you buy bottled water?
If so, are recycling receptacles usually offered?
I would venture to say No.
99% of swim meets that I have attended as either a spectator or as a volunteer,
recycling for the hundreds/thousands of plastic bottles is non existing.
I find myself often being the only one who is walking around the pool deck,
collecting what remains, knowing full well that most have already gone in the trash.
This is not an issue with the bottles themselves, but with offering the means to separate so they can at least be recycled.
If you are in any way involved with organizing swimming events consider this small change in behavior.
Encourage your co swimmers or AG kids to use re-usable bottles, ask your pool,
gym or YMCA to offer recycling bins throughout the facility.
When you attend meets do you buy bottled water?
If so, are recycling receptacles usually offered?
I would venture to say No.
99% of swim meets that I have attended as either a spectator or as a volunteer,
recycling for the hundreds/thousands of plastic bottles is non existing.
I find myself often being the only one who is walking around the pool deck,
collecting what remains, knowing full well that most have already gone in the trash.
This is not an issue with the bottles themselves, but with offering the means to separate so they can at least be recycled.
If you are in any way involved with organizing swimming events consider this small change in behavior.
Encourage your co swimmers or AG kids to use re-usable bottles, ask your pool,
gym or YMCA to offer recycling bins throughout the facility.
