Since we have a debate going on in our “Broad Street Run More Sustainable…” comments AND on our Facebook page, I decided to investigate what people can do with their old race medals.

Many runners & triathletes etc. accumulate medals and don’t know what to do with them. Here’s some alternatives to throwing them in the trash (always a big no-no):

• Cut a craft magnet sheet & make your own medal magnets
• Or mount them on a plain coaster to make an interesting coffee table set (Here’s a few other ways to DIY drink coasters).
• Medals 4 Mettle accepts donations of previous race medals and give them to terminally ill & severely disabled individuals.  The coolest part? You can tell a ‘story’ when you donate your hard-earned medal – where it came from and any personal challenges to encourage those in worse shape.  One of the site donors quoted on the site: “The first time I completed a marathon I cried – it had been such a struggle and the accomplishment meant so much to me. But that’s nothing compared to the struggle of patients fighting against illness. I’m honored to donate my most recent medal to an individual through Medals for Mettle.”  Medals 4 Mettle even has a Philadelphia chapter (Contact: Sharan Kaur, M4M Philadelphia, sharan.kaur@medals4mettle.org)

(I couldn’t find any recycling medal programs but will continue to search.)

Can’t part with your hard-earned medal? Display a few of your favorites on a wall/case and donate the rest!

Readers, what creative things have you done with old medals?

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher