Organisers of the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon have revealed what will happen to all the clothing left behind after the race.

Rather than allowing runners’ discarded clothing to end up in landfill, event organizer Run 4 Wales was determined to find another solution.

Rachel Madge, Run 4 Wales Cardiff Half Marathon Event Manager, said:

“Every year, many runners who have been keeping warm in their starting boxes are left behind.

“When we were thinking about what to do with these pieces as part of our Green Action Plan at Run 4 Wales, we came across Play it Again Sport. Like us, the charity is not only keen on recycling and keeping waste out of landfill, but they are also passionate about making sport as accessible as possible.

“It was a no-brainer to work with them and support their cause.”

Play It Again Sport, based in Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was founded in 2017. The organisation accepts donations of sportswear and sells it to those in need at a fraction of the original price.

The money raised is then used to fund and support local sporting groups such as running and walking groups, walking rugby and strength training sessions to help the community stay active and give them access to activities they may not otherwise have the opportunity to do.

Natasha Burnell, Enterprise Manager at Play It Again Sport, said:

“We collect donated items after a race, such as the Cardiff Half. These are then sorted in our offices and sold very cheaply to help ease the financial burden that the sport can place on people.

“We get a huge range of clothing and gear that we sell on Vinted or eBay. We also work with a zero-waste store in Ferndale that stocks some of our items, and we regularly open pop-up shops in schools or at Christmas markets to reach as many people as possible. There are no set criteria that people have to meet to join our groups or buy our goods – we are here to help anyone who needs us.”

The organization also has a referral program through which schools, social workers and athletic coaches can request clothing and equipment for someone who would otherwise not be able to participate.

And all donations that have nothing to do with sports are passed on to other charity shops in the area.

Natasha added:

“Hoodies are always very useful and we also see people buying a jacket or jumper from a charity shop to wear on the start line and then donating them back. It’s a great way to encourage the circular economy whilst giving something back to charity.

“One of our main goals is to reduce landfill waste and we do our best to ensure that no item donated to us ends up there. Sometimes not all donated items are suitable for resale, but we remain committed to finding an alternative use for them.”

The Principality Cardiff Half Marathon has been donating to Play It Again Sport since 2019.