Zero Waste Los Alamos

The Jemez Mountain Trail Runs (JMTR) take place in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico starting and ending in the town of Los Alamos. The race series includes 15 mile, 50k, and 50 mile distances and attracts more than 600 runners and 75 volunteers each year. The JMTR has gained a reputation as a very difficult course on technical trails with a substantial amount of elevation change and variable weather conditions. As a nonprofit event, the organization has donated nearly $300,000 to local organizations and student scholarships since 2006. 

In recent years, members of the Jemez Mountain Trail Runs committee have been focusing on reducing the event’s impact on the environment by minimizing the amount of waste generated by the races. This has been accomplished through composting, recycling, and optimizing event supplies. Efforts initiated in 2024 resulted in a decrease of over 75 percent (by weight) of the solid waste disposed after the event. 

This year the race committee will increase efforts by investing in compostable serving ware and collaborating with the Los Alamos County Sustainability Alliance and the Environmental Sustainability Board as well as volunteers from Los Alamos High School’s Eco Club and National Honors Society. Recyclable materials will be separated and compostable waste will be delivered to Reunity Resources in Santa Fe for commercial composting. 

The Los Alamos County Sustainability Alliance and the Environmental Sustainability Board work together with citizens, businesses and County departments to help reduce waste. Their members envision a sustainable, vibrant community where our beautiful environment is respected and protected by our efforts to rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle. 

This year’s race will be held on Saturday, May 9th. If you would like to volunteer at the finish line to help with compostable waste sorting, please email Kristine Coblentz at coblentz.kristine@gmail.com. JMTR looks forward to continued improvements in our waste reduction efforts as we partner with local organizations and resources.