Connoisseurs’ Marketplace: One Green Festival
 The Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce will once again join forces with Allied Waste Services and Recology to promote and encourage recycling and composting at Connoisseurs’ Marketplace, Menlo Park’s popular festival of the arts, July 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Santa Cruz Avenue. “We’re on a mission to make the festival as green and sustainable as possible — it’s a major priority for us and something we diligently plan for and hope to improve upon every year,” said Fran Dehn, President/CEO of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce.
 The festival has taken steps to make it easier than ever for festivalgoers and vendors to conserve resources by recycling and composting. Food vendors will be required to use recyclable and compostable foodware. Specially marked containers will be placed in the food areas for composting left-over food scraps including meat and bones, paper plates, cups, chopsticks, skewers and napkins. Food vendors will be provided with separate composting containers placed behind their booths.
This material will be collected and added to Allied Waste’s existing Commercial Composting collection program. “We’re delighted and pleased to partner again with the Chamber of Commerce and appreciate the concerted effort they’ve made,” said Elaine Sobouti, Allied Waste Services Recycling Coordinator for the city of Menlo Park. “The festival has made great strides the past few years and these efforts will further help the city of Menlo Park in meeting the State’s mandated diversion efforts.”
Recycling is another major component of the “greening” effort. Free-standing containers will be positioned throughout the festival for recycling glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Additionally, there will be large recycling containers for cardboard and mixed paper as well as glass, plastic and aluminum in strategic locations for event staff, vendors and sponsors. “It’s our goal to make sure we’re doing everything possible to maximize recycling and minimize waste,” said Dehn.
The festival is also encouraging the use of public transportation and bicycles to minimize carbon emissions and reduce vehicular traffic. Downtown Menlo Park has more than 80 bicycle parking racks along Santa Cruz Avenue. The Caltrain/Samtrans station conveniently drops riders off one short block from the festival.
Allied Waste Services (formerly BFI) is the second largest vertically integrated solid waste management company in the industry which offers debris box, recycling and garbage services for residential and commercial customers. For additional information, please go to: http://www.alliedwastesanmateocounty.com.
As of January 1, 2011, Recology San Mateo County (formerly Norcal Waste Systems of San Mateo County) will provide recycling, compost and garbage collection services to all Residential, Multi-Family and Commercial customers in Menlo Park. For additional information, please go to: http://www.recologysanmateocounty.com. |
