The tens of thousands of plastic drink cups used by runners during the Port of Antwerp Night Marathon will get a second life: they will be collected and recycled using 3D-printing and made into a hip table and chairs for the Q8 service station on Antwerp’s Linkeroever. That is organiser Golazo and main partner Q8’s original way of reusing the plastic waste.
The participants of the Port of Antwerp Night Marathon on Saturday 11 September will get water and sports drinks in plastic drink cups from supply stations at every 2.5 kilometres. Organiser Golazo and main partner Q8 would like to ask runners to throw those cups in the Q8 recycle bins that are dotted all over the course after use. The famous presenter and actress from Antwerp, Saartje Vandendriessche, who is an avid runner herself, will urge her fellow runners to do the same in a little clip.
“Those who help, could win a fun Dopper bottle at the finish”, explains Greg Broekmans of Golazo. “That way we can separate the cups from other waste and give them a second life. After collection, the cups will be compressed into big bales, chopped into small pieces and melted down into plastic pellets. We then make those into an exclusive table and chairs using a 3D-printer.”
Hip Service Station Furniture
These unique pieces of furniture will get pride of place at a Q8 service station. “As main partner we think that it is important to focus on sustainability, something we value as a main priority as a business. Therefore, we would like to fully support this by facilitating the collection and by giving recycled cups a second life at one of our service stations”, states spokesperson Katia Van Bouwel of Q8.
