A Record Amount of Recyclable Materials Collected at the Almaty Half Marathon

On 19 April, Almaty hosted the ninth Almaty Half Marathon, which brought together more than 10,000 participants from 44 countries. A record amount of recyclable materials was collected during the run – the highest figure in the history of the half marathon and almost five times more than in 2025. Organised by “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund, the half marathon traditionally opens the season of major running events in Kazakhstan.

Environmental practices at the running events organised by “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund are being introduced systematically. Since 2019, participants at the starts have been able to hand in recyclable materials for recycling, while volunteers have consistently been present at the venue to assist with sorting.

This year, the organisers placed particular emphasis on environmental initiatives. Together with EcoNetwork, they set up an eco-zone in the finish area, where participants could hand in plastic bottles and aluminum cans. All collected recyclable materials were sent for recycling and will later be used to create new products, from interior items to clothing.

In total, 786.45 kg of recyclable materials were collected as part of the Almaty Half Marathon, including 652.75 kg of paper and cardboard, 117 kg of plastic, 5.6 kg of aluminum, and 11.1 kg of film - 4.7 times more than in 2025. This amounted to almost 0.8 tons of waste that did not end up in landfill but was instead sent for recycling.

Some participants also supported a charitable initiative: at the start, runners left warm clothing on the turnstiles, and the Teplo project team then collected, sorted, and distributed the items to those in need. The project can be supported all year round, with a clothing collection box installed at the entrance to the Botanical Garden.

“As organisers, we strive to ensure that our events leave as little environmental footprint as possible, and we are moving in this direction systematically. This year, we managed to collect a record amount of recyclable materials and, together with our partners, see a tangible impact: recycling will help save more than six trees, conserve over 13,000 liters of water, and reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 1,100 kg. In addition, recycling plastic will help save around 730 kWh of electricity and nearly 400 litres of oil,” noted Saltanat Kazybayeva, Executive Director of “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund.

It is worth noting that this year Almaty welcomed 821 international participants, accounting for around 8% of the total number, which became the highest figure in the history of the half marathon. While the majority of runners were residents of Kazakhstan, the geography of the start continues to expand.

The top three countries by number of participants were Russia (346), Kyrgyzstan (146), and Uzbekistan (81). The run also featured participants from China (37), the United States (32), the United Kingdom (28), Ukraine (21), and Belarus (18). The event brought together runners from Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Registration for the Astana Half Marathon, which will take place on 31 May and bring together running enthusiasts from across Kazakhstan, is still open.

In addition, registration is now open for the 15th anniversary Almaty Marathon – the largest running event in Central Asia, which will take place on 27 September 2026.