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 Skagit County Zero-Waste Events
Skagit County Zero-Waste
Events is a comprehensive program facilitating recycling, composting and
waste reduction at public and private events. Our program offers:
- Logo
certification and promotion
- Free
borrowing of portable waste bins and signs
- Technical
assistance
Eligible
events include conventions, festivals, sporting events, farmers’ markets,
expos, fairs, galas, family reunions, church functions, weddings, meetings,
and conferences.
What is a Zero-Waste
Event?
A Zero-Waste Event is a
public or private event that meets the criteria for either our silver
or gold certification levels for waste reduction. When you register your
event with us, you become eligible to display one of our logos on your
promotional materials to help promote your green event.
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SILVER Zero-Waste Events use
waste reduction techniques, offer recycle bins, and incentivize
vendor composting for food prep scraps.
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GOLD Zero-Waste Events
add food scrap collection, controls on vendor or organizer-supplied
utensils and packaging, and grease collection.
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Waste Bin & Signage Borrowing
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Participating events
may borrow ClearStream® folding recycle bins to collect recyclables
or compostables at their events. Silver events may borrow our dual recycle-landfill
waste stations with mini billboard signage, while gold events can
borrow our triple recycle-compost-landfill waste stations with larger
billboard signage.
Easy Waste Bin Transportation
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Smaller
events can pick up bins in the back of a
car—the ClearStream folding frames and nesting lids make them easy
to transport. You’re responsible for setup and returning bins to
our Mount Vernon offices at the agreed return time, usually the
next business day.
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Larger events receive free delivery of a cargo
trailer with all the appropriate bins and bin carts for deploying
bins across your event. You’re responsible for setup and returning
bins to the trailer.
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Why should I make my
event Zero-Waste?
- It’s the law. RCW 70.93.093 requires
recycling
at official gatherings and sports facilities.
- It reduces global warming.
Nearly 80% of waste from public events is food waste, which releases
significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as it decomposes
in a landfill. Learn more about the environmental costs of organics
in landfills.
- It saves money.
In 2009, the
Anacortes Arts Festival cut their garbage bill in half, from $6,000 to $3,000, through
participation in the Zero-Waste Events pilot program. Additionally,
the Festival avoided a $5,000 fine for improper grease disposal by providing
grease collection drums for biodiesel production.
- It promotes your event! You can display our Zero-Waste Event gold or silver logos on
your promotional materials.
How do I get started?
To reserve bins and
signs for borrowing, contact Sustainability Coordinator Katie Hampton
at khampton@co.skagit.wa.us.
Skagit County’s
Zero-Waste Events program is funded in part by an Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and in part by Keep America
Beautiful, Inc. and the Coca-Cola Company’s Bin Grant program.
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