press release...

I got this in an email from the organizer of the earth day fair we were a part of over the weekend...kewl. I feel all warm & fuzzy now

Extraordinary Earth Day

The 8th Annual Earth Day and Energy Fair happened this past weekend with enormous community turn out and participation. Over 80 exhibitors were on hand to showcase conservation, sustainability, and green living. Event organizers report that nearly 3000 Douglas County Residents came out to brave the snow and hail to enjoy the free event, music, and prizes.

The most extraordinary part of this year’s Earth Day and Energy Fair at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, is that organizers planned a couple of recycling events to coincide with the festivities. First, nearly 700 pounds of used tennis shoes were collected in front of Douglas Hall and delivered to Nike in Eugene to be ground up into new athletic running tracks. Second, 3 truckloads of electronic waste was collected for recycling from local businesses and families. This amounts to 24,000 pounds or 12 tons of waste diverted from our local landfill.

In addition, the event demonstrated how a large scale venue like the Douglas County Fairgrounds can successfully subscribe to a “zero waste” philosophy. Each exhibitor was encouraged to minimize waste, as was the concessionaire. Organizers provided zero garbage cans; only recycle bins manned by volunteers to educate fair goers. A waste audit at the end of the event indicated that of the 227.2 pounds of waste generated; only 5 pounds went to the landfill as garbage. The rest was either recycled or composted. This amounted to a recycling rate of 97.5%. The average household in Douglas County only recycles 30%.

Chris McCullough, Douglas County Waste Reduction Manager and event coordinator stated “The success of this program is due in large part to the great partnerships and volunteers.” McCullough goes on to say that “Douglas County is rich in community leadership. Despite differing approaches and ideologies, each partner and volunteer is fully engaged in the shared goal of a clean, green Oregon.

For more information on this or any other of the County’s waste reduction programs contact Douglas County Public Works at 440-4350 or visit them online at www.recyclepower.org