Thurston County Solid Waste offers Free Recycle, Trash, and Compost Bins for your Event

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Submitted by Thurston County Solid Waste

Event RecyclingSummer is event season. From BBQ’s, to picnics, to local festivals, you are sure to attend at least one fun, food-filled event this summer. In fact, you may even be hosting one yourself. If you happen to be someone who is planning or hosting an event, then you have a lot of things to consider. How much food should I make?  Who should I invite? Do we need a bounce house? One thing you may not be thinking about, though, is how much waste your event is going to create and what you can do to reduce it.

Luckily, Thurston County Solid Waste and our Event Recycling Program are here to help you make your next event as waste-free as possible.  Zero-waste events are gaining popularity throughout the country, and for good reason. There are numerous economic and environmental benefits associated with reducing the amount of waste we create and send to the landfill. Whether you are planning a large community event or your child’s birthday party, you can save valuable energy and resources when you reduce the amount of waste your event creates, as well as save yourself money in the form of reduced hauling fees. One easy waste reduction technique is to serve condiments and beverages in bulk dispensers rather than as individually packaged items.

After you have identified all of the opportunities for reduction, implementing recycling and composting are your next steps. Ideally, all of the items used at a zero-waste event are either reusable, recyclable or compostable. Visit our Organics page here for information about using durable or compostable items at your event. Diverting organic material from the landfill (food scraps), can significantly reduce the amount of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas associated with climate change, present in our atmosphere. As more and more people are realizing the consequences of excess food waste in our country and the cost of sending trash to the landfill is becoming more expensive, zero-waste events provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditionally organized gatherings.

Thurston County Solid Waste is here to assist you in a number of ways. We loan out free event collection bins for trash, recycling and compost. They are available for pick up at Celebrations the Party Store in Lacey, or at city halls throughout the County. When you borrow our collection bins you will also receive free trash, recycle and compost bags, signage for the bins, as well as general information for you to consider as the event planner or host.

In addition to the materials we loan out for free, Thurston County Solid Waste also provides a host of online information to help make your zero-waste event go as smoothly as possible. Our online Event Planning “Toolkit” includes information to give to your vendors, a comprehensive event planning checklist for events big and small, and lots valuable tips to help you with each step of the way. Visit the web site or call Katherine Straus at 360-867-2282 to start planning your zero-waste event today!

 

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