Submitted by Thurston County Solid Waste
OLYMPIA –Visitors can look for recycle and compost collection bins at this year’s Thurston County Fair, August 1-5. Fair staff will collect uneaten food, soiled paper, beverage containers, and other recyclables at waste and recycling stations in the food court and around the property. Visitors who use the stations help prevent waste from going to landfills.
Food scraps and soiled paper will be hauled to a local processing facility to be turned into rich soil. Trash is shipped by train to the Roosevelt Regional Landfill over 200 miles away.
“More and more people are expecting recycle and compost collection at community events,” says Thurston County Solid Waste Educator Brian Stafki. “Food waste is the largest share of potential trash. It benefits the community to keep it out of the landfill.”
The Fair has been recycling cans, bottles, and cardboard for years. The Fair will save money by including compost collection to its services. The Fair introduced the collection of organics in 2010. The Fair needs the help of visitors to increase the amount collected for composting this year.
“We are very committed to preventing waste during our events. We are putting more bins out there. We really need the help of the public
to use them and not just the trash,” says Fair Manager Rick Storvick. “Preventing waste saves the County money and helps our department serve the public,” says Storvick.
The Fair and Solid Waste also needs the help from up to 75 volunteers from the community to help visitors with sorting recycling and food scraps. This is a great project for scouts, church groups, and service organizations. Each volunteer will get two free admission tickets.
For what goes in recycling or compost go to Thurston County Solid Waste’s website, www.ThurstonSolidWaste.org. To help out at the Fair click on “Volunteer” from the Solid Waste website.
For more information about the Thurston County Fair and other events go to www.co.thurston.wa.us/fair.
