Marin County Fair’s Waste Diversion Matches Record

San Rafael, CA -- Of all the waste products generated at the 2013 Marin County Fair, 93 percent – amounting to 67.56 tons, or about 135,120 pounds -- was prevented from reaching the waste stream through recycling and composting.

The percentage of diversion matched the fair’s record figure from 2012 and represented a considerable jump from 74 percent diversion in 2009. Fair organizers credited the coordinated services and planning of the Conservation Corps North Bay, Marin Sanitary Service and Revolutionary Green for having the highest level of diverted waste of any county fair in North America.

“We are so proud of the sustainable features of the fair’s resource recovery program,” said Marin County Board of Supervisors President Judy Arnold. “With accolades as the ‘Greenest County Fair on Earth,’ the Marin County Fair strives to integrate sustainable practices and promote environmental operations and performance.” 

Conservation Corps North Bay collected and sorted a record 6,992 pounds (3.64 tons) of recycling material at bins and 60 Eco-Stations placed throughout the fair. Materials included glass, aluminum, HDPE (plastic #3), plastic #1, paper, mixed plastic and cardboard.

Collected compostables totaled 65.5 tons thanks to the leadership and composting services of Marin Sanitary Service, onsite support of Revolutionary Green, Conservation Corps North Bay collection and sorting, and participation of the fair’s 35 food and beverage vendors and 114,000 guests. The compostables included:

1. Food waste from 35 vendors – from corn husks from roasted corn to avocado skins from guacamole preparation                                                     
2. Compostable waste from fairgoers including paper plates, Greenware, hot and cold cups, napkins, utensils, leftover food waste and paper towel collection from 14 fairgrounds restrooms
3. Composted agricultural waste from the Clover Stornetta Family Farm   
4. Compost soil provided by West Marin Compost of Nicasio that was used in the 2013 Master Gardeners tent and six professional gardens
5. The pre-consumer waste that was taken by the Marin Sanitary Service to be processed in its composting facility in Zamora, Calif., and post-consumer compost that went to Davis Street Transfer Station in San Leandro, Calif.
6. Used cooking oil from all 35 food vendors collected by Yokayo Biofuels of Ukiah

The Marin County Fair is aligned with the goal of Zero Waste Marin of moving Marin to zero waste by 2025. The fair is the largest event in Marin leading the way to reach that goal. Zero Waste Marin, a program of the Marin County Department of Public Works, contributed $10,000 in 2013 toward the effort. 

The fair has been dedicated to preventing greenhouse gas emissions over the past six years. Since 2008 the county fair’s waste diversion programs have saved more than 383 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). That is equivalent of conserving 10 households’ annual energy consumption, 195 barrels of oil and 9,071 gallons of gasoline.