Community Programs & Events

We offer people living in Thurston County a variety of ways to learn about garbage, recycling, and composting. We use presentations, tabling demonstrations, Question & Answer events, videos, and social media to help Thurston County reduce waste and recycle properly.
2025 Events
Spring Fix-It Fair!
Date: Wednesday, April 16
When: 2:30pm-6:30pm
Where: Lacey MakerSpace at St. Martin's University
Zaverl Hall, Building 5 Baran Drive Southeast, Lacey, WA 98503
Join us for our second community repair event at the Lacey MakerSpace! Volunteers will help repair clothing, lamps, housewares, jewelry, small appliances, and bicycles—for free!
For more information, or to sign up to attend or volunteer, visit ThurstonSolidWaste.org/FixIt
Earth Day 2025

Date: Saturday, April 19
When: 1pm-4pm
Where: Woodland Creek Community Park
6729 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Celebrate Earth Day with a fun, family-friendly event focused on recycling and waste reduction! Enjoy interactive activities including LeMay’s Touch-a-Truck experience, where kids and adults alike will enjoy climbing aboard and learning how these vehicles help keep our community clean and green.
This event is in collaboration with Intercity Transit, The City of Lacey, and LeMay Pacific Disposal.
Free Compost Giveaway Event 2025
Date: Saturday, May 3
When: 11am-2pm
Where: Hawks Prairie Park & Ride
2548 Hogum Bay Rd NE, Olympia, 98516
Thurston County residents are invited to pick up a free ½ yard of bulk compost, generously donated by Brady Trucking, as a celebration of International Compost Awareness Week (May 4-10).
Please bring a shovel and gloves, and be prepared to load your own material. Compost is first come, first served while supplies last. Limit: 1/2 cubic yard (20 x 5-gallon buckets).
Compost offered at this event started as food and yard waste from residents and businesses in Thurston County. It was then processed into a finished compost product by Brady Trucking in Shelton, WA.
Need to contact us? Call (360) 867-2491 or email thurstonsolidwaste@co.thurston.wa.us
Presentations
We offer presentations for Thurston County based organizations, civic groups, neighborhood associations, classrooms, and other groups of 10 or more. Topics include:
- local recycling and garbage systems
- recycling 101
- food and yard waste recycling
- waste less food
- low waste holidays
Contact us to request a presentation. We ask that you contact us at least three weeks prior to your desired presentation date.

Can This be Recycled?:
This audience-driven session is all about answering your recycling questions. We invite you to bring in items you’re unsure about and get expert advice on which waste stream they belong to. It’s a fun, hands-on way to learn how to recycle more effectively and reduce waste in our community!
Presentations are generally the last Wednesday of every other month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Registration is strongly encouraged as the space is limited to 30 participants. Light refreshments will be provided.
Community Events
Our staff attend several community tabling events each year, ready to answer questions and share information about garbage, recycling, and food and yard waste recycling.
If you are organizing an event and looking for an educational vendor, please contact us.
Event | Date | Location | Time | More Info |
LOTT WET Science Center - Saturday Workshop | Saturday, January 25 | LOTT WET Science Center | 10am-4pm | See here |
Billy Frank Jr. Celebration | Wednesday, March 19 | Timberline High School | 5pm-7:30pm | Coming Soon |
Fix-It Fair | Wednesday, April 16 | Lacey MakerSpace | 2:30pm-6:30pm | See here |
Thurston County Earth Day Celebration | Saturday, April 19 | Woodland Creek Community Park | 1pm-4pm | See below |
Free Compost Giveaway | Saturday, May 3 | Hawks Prairie Park & Ride | 11am-2pm | See below |
Thurston County Fair |
Thursday, July 31 - Sunday, August 3 Exact date of attendance TBD |
Thurston County Fairgrounds | Exact time of attendance TBD | See here |
Eco Fair & Art Festival | August - exact date TBD | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church | TBD | See here |
Nisqually Watershed Festival | Saturday, September 27 | Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge | TBD | See here |
Thurston County Harvest Festival | Saturday, October 4 | South Union Grange | TBD | See here |