While most King County residents recycle, still more than 78 percent of what ends up in the county’s landfill could have been recycled or composted.
Karen May is King County’s Master Recycler Composter program manager. She works to provide training that gives participants the tools to help people prevent waste and compost more. Now in its 27th year, the 2016 training includes three classroom sessions on Saturdays – from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 26, April 2, and 9, with an optional field trip April 30 to a composting facility.
Interested in getting trained to help others curb waste and recycle more? Sign up by March 23 for popular King County curbside composting and recycling classes coming soon in Kent.
We interviewed Karen about why recycling and composting matters.
What is so cool about being a Master Recycler Composter (MRC)?
It’s a unique venue for channeling passion about the environment into action. MRCs make a difference. It’s rewarding to share what you’ve learned with others and provide them with tips and tools that encourage behavior change that benefits the environment. Not to mention that you get to spend time with other like-minded MRCs that you meet at the training or provide outreach with.
What does a Master Recycler Composter learn in the class?
MRCs learn about the impacts that solid waste has on climate change, what materials are acceptable in recycling and yard/food waste carts, tips and strategies for reducing food waste and how to provide effective outreach to the public.
Why does recycling and composting matter?
Recyclables and compostable materials have value and can be given a second life by transforming them into new products. Recycling and composting help conserve natural resources, create jobs for the local economy and help to address climate change.
What’s your favorite thing to compost?
Anything that can go into a yard waste cart! From food scraps and pizza boxes to the yard waste generated from working in my yard, I feel lucky to live in a part of the world that collects these materials for composting.
Any fun tips for wasting less food?
If you make more than you can eat, befriend your freezer! So many food items can be frozen and it’s always a delight to have a favorite dish handy in the freezer when you need a quick and easy meal.
New to composting and recycling, check out King County’s Food: Too Good to Waste site. There’s a ton of tips and information about how you can reduce food waste and stop wasting money.
