Thurston County, Washington

Presidents' Day - Monday, February 16

County facilities will be closed on Monday, February 16 in observance of Presidents' Day.

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.
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Thurston County Washington

Public Works

Compactor Naming Contest

Name our Compactor!

Thurston County’s Waste and Recovery Center just installed a brand-new compactor, and it needs a name! We’re calling on the community to put your creativity to work and help us give this powerhouse a personality.

the new compactor arriving by truck at the WARC

the new compactor at the warc being unloaded from its trailer

the new compactor being positioned into its resting place at the WARC

The Prize

The winning name will be proudly displayed near the compactor and the winner will receive a sustainability-themed swag bag featuring:

  • A Stasher reusable sandwich bag
  • A Thurston County branded ChicoBag
  • Reusable utensils
  • A reusable straw

How to Enter

Submit your best name idea for the new compactor by completing this form. The more clever, catchy, or waste-wise, the better!

Deadline to submit your idea: February 28, 2026

About the Compactor

For years, Thurston County’s Waste and Recovery Center has relied on a single garbage compactor. That old machine worked hard crushing garbage every day, but after years of frequent repairs and maintenance, it was time for an upgrade. 

To boost reliability and handle more material, the County installed a powerful new machine designed to work faster, stronger, and more efficiently.

This heavyweight hero, an SSI Shredding Systems 4500SPH Pre-load Compactor, tips the scales at a whopping 176,000 pounds and delivers an impressive 200 tons of compaction force. That’s some serious muscle!

Thanks to upgraded hydraulic pumps, the new compactor packs more power, works more efficiently, and gets the job done in less time which helps keep the facility running smoothly every day.

Now all it needs is a great name!

compactor at the factory

compactor at the factory

compactor at the factory