People soaked up the sun and discussed environmental issues at the Congregational Church on Mercer Island’s “Invest in Our Planet” Earth Day Fair on April 22.
The church’s second annual free event, which took place from 4-7 p.m. in the parking lot at 4545 Island Crest Way, featured a host of environmental organizations and advocates who connected with attendees and focused their conversations on saving energy, restoring nature and building a healthy planet for all.
Nine booths lined one section of the parking lot and included Scout Troop 678 discussing PSE Green Energy options; Mercer Island sustainability program analyst Ross Freeman; the League of Women Voters-sponsored Mercer Island Climate Action Now (MI CAN) group; Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light; and the Cedar Grove composting company.
Karen Dawson, director of public affairs for Cedar Grove, said the third-generation company with Mercer Island ties has two facilities in Everett and Maple Valley where they process organic waste into compost.
While taking a quick break from educating attendees about compost, Dawson added that: “Avoiding food waste and your yard waste when it goes into a landfill creates methane gas, the most harmful ozone layer depleting gas, and so when we can divert from the landfill and compost it, it’s really good for the environment.”
Over at the Earth Ministry booth, Seattle-area operations manager Maddie Smith said she works with local congregations and others statewide to help them enter the green realm as well as organize faith communities for climate and environmental justice advocacy.
As Smith glanced around the fair, she said events like these are important relationship-builders.
“It’s good to meet people because that’s how you create change in your neighborhood and coming together to advocate,” she said.
Mercer Island High School Green Team members, from left to right, Alex Weil (co-president), Lainie Wion, Harry Weil and Alexander Aylen. Ridwell’s Erin Metzger stands in the middle. Courtesy photo
SCHOOL RECYCLING CAMPAIGN
Let the recycling begin.
The Ridwell recycling company dropped off bins at the front entrances of all six Mercer Island School District buildings last Friday, and the free collection of plastic film was set for April 25-29.
Longtime parent volunteer and school district Green Team facilitator Nancy Weil has joined forces with Ridwell and collaborated with the district administration, Green Team high school students, teachers and PTAs from all schools to promote and launch the vital campaign.
Ridwell founder and his wife, Ryan and Erin Metzger, and Tony Kuhn, school district director of maintenance and operations, have played integral roles in bringing the campaign to fruition, Weil said.
According to Ridwell and the campaign page on the district’s website, plastic film can’t be placed in recycling bins and must be collected and recycled by a separate facility. Types of film include: pallet wrap, stretch film, dry cleaning bags, air pillows, plastic shipping envelopes and many more.
Weil, who has run the district’s Green Team for more than a decade, said, “My whole goal was to educate students. All I want is kids to know this so that they go out into the world and spread the reason we should be doing things differently.”
Weil’s Green Team journey began 12 years ago when she introduced the King County Green Schools program to the district at one of her child’s elementary schools. Each district school is now certified through the county program. Her daughter Alex is co-president of the high school team and her son Harry is a member.
For more details on recyclable items and the campaign, visit https://tinyurl.com/39523nzb.
