Fair recycling effort nets 12 tons

PALMER -- In the first widespread effort to recycle trash at the Alaska State Fair, event organizers announced recently that more than 12 tons of trash -- cardboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles -- discarded by fairgoers and vendors were collected for recycling.

The recycling plan was a joint effort between Green Star Alaska, Valley Community for Recycling Solutions and Alaska State Fair organizers. It wasn't the first attempt at fair recycling, however. An aluminum can recycling program was tried several years ago and, according to event coordinators, it provided a foundation on which to build this year's program.

More than 500 people working individually or as volunteers in conjunction with their business helped collect and sort enough trash to nearly fill 10 roll-off, 40-cubic-yard containers. More fairgoers participated in a less direct way, by observing activities, evaluating efforts and providing suggestions for improvement.

"The biggest plus was how many people commented on the fact that they could see recycling in action," said Pamella Troutman, vendor and exhibits manager for the fair. "People saw volunteers pulling carts and collecting and sorting the materials on the fairgrounds, not just signs or banners that said there was recycling going on."

Mollie Boyer, executive director for VCRS, said the event was a learning opportunity for all involved. Not only did fairgoers get to see that recycling actually works in Alaska, event organizers were able to find many ways to help the event work smoother next year.

"It's going to be an ongoing process," Boyer said last week. "We learned a lot about what we hadn't anticipated."

One valuable tip, Boyer said, will result in rescheduling volunteer cooperation.

"The two days after the fair are big," Boyer said. "Vendors are recycling [a lot of cardboard] for the next two days. We would expand the program so we're prepared for that."

Boyer said the recycling cans were pretty successful -- especially if they were paired with a trash can that would hold materials that weren't being recycled. Next year, it's likely more bins will be added throughout the fairgrounds.

Some changes may be made to help deal with the sheer volume of cardboard recycled by vendors, Boyer added. She said event organizers were very pleased with the vendor's participation.

"They had a lot of enthusiasm," Boyer said.

Establishing a good working relationship with the fair grounds crew was another key element that will help the event become increasingly successful over the coming years, Boyer said. But ultimately, she said, organizers will be focusing on increasing awareness and education about the event.

"The idea is to keep the fair a recycling event," Boyer said. "That's where we can show it's possible and how to do it. And that there's a commitment to being a good steward in Alaska."