By Cindy Morana for Thurston Solid Waste
I took the Master Recycler Composter (MRC) training in 2011. Among the many things we learned were:
- Where does our trash go?
- Why can we recycle some things and not others?
- How can I set up a worm bin?
- And, how can I spread the word about composting and recycling?
There’s a ton of information, lots of great people, and plenty of hands-on opportunities to see and learn the latest methods. I thought I knew a lot about recycling and composting before I started, but I know a lot more now and am confident to share it with other people.
As a Master Recycler Composter, I get to go to community events, and I get to pick which ones I want to do. I’ve helped out at Secondhand Safari, the community yard sale, by staffing the waste stations to advise people what goes where. I handed out reusable shopping bags at the Thurston County Fair and the Pacific Northwest Mushroom Festival and helped conduct a survey about plastic bag use there and at the Lacey Community Market. I spread compost on the children’s garden at Dirtworks (over by Yauger Park). I even got to work on the whale for the Procession of the Species.
This summer, I’ll get a chance to be in the Lakefair parade, as part of the recycling brigade. There have been many events, and I’ve met – and worked with – many great people. Many more to come, too!
Each time we set up a booth, where we often are in teams of two (especially when just starting out), we get to meet members of our community and answer questions. There’s a box of resource materials and a variety of brochures to rely on and to hand out. There’s even a notebook to record particularly interesting or knotty questions that come up. It’s a lot of fun. I get to go to all sorts of fairs and celebrations, and I get to talk to all sorts of folks, many of whom are really interested in what we’re doing.
Thurston County trains and runs the Master Recycler Composter program. The next opportunity to join us starts September 3, and applications are being accepted now. See you there?
Applications for the fall training are due August 16 and are available by going to www.ThurstonSolidWaste.org and clicking on “Volunteers”.
