Every year after the Boilermaker Road Race, there are several pounds of fruit such as bananas and oranges left over. Because this fruit is already cut up for runners they cannot be donated to area food pantries. Enter the Utica Zoo. This year instead of simply composting or throwing away unused fruit, the Boilermaker donated more than 200 pounds of leftover oranges and bananas along with five bags of ice to the Zoo.

Because fruit and vegetables are a large part of the Zoo animals diet, every little bit helps. Zoo officials say their animals can consume up to 30 pounds of fruits and vegetables in one day alone.

Boilermaker officials say that donating the food to Zoo animals is a way to extract the greatest value from any waste that is produced and represents the full circle of recycling.

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