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.
Free Compost Giveaway Event 2025
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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).
Event Reminders:
- Please bring your own shovel, gloves, & container(s)
- Be prepared to load your own material
- Compost is first come, first served while supplies last
- Limit: 1/2 cubic yard per household (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
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
Date: Saturday, April 19
When: 1pm-4pm
Where: Woodland Creek Community Park
6729 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Celebrate Earth Day with Thurston County and the City of Lacey at a fun, family-friendly event focused on recycling and waste reduction!
Free Activities to Celebrate Earth Day:
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Touch-a-Garbage Truck with LeMay Pacific Disposal
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Touch-a-Bus with Intercity Transit
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Plant native wildflowers to take home with Thurston County Noxious Weeds
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Make your own non-toxic household cleaner with Thurston County Public Health & Social Services
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Play games that teach you how to keep our streets and shorelines free of litter with Pacific Shellfish Institute
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Learn how to make a beeswax wrap with Thurston County Solid Waste
Additional Highlights:
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Plastic Film Recycling: Attendees can drop off one grocery bag filled with plastic film that will be collected by Ridwell and recycled into decking material by their partner Trex!
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Learn what items are accepted for collection: Plastic Film Recycling
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Learn about Timberland Regional Library's services & resources
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Talk with a Recycling & Waste Reduction Specialist to get all of your "can this be recycled?" questions answered
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This event is in collaboration with The City of Lacey, Intercity Transit, Thurston County Master Recycler Composters, Pacific Shellfish Institute, Timberland Regional Library, Ridwell, and LeMay Pacific Disposal.
Event Contact:
April Roe, Recycling & Waste Reduction Specialist
Phone (o) 360.867.2267 (c) 360.485.8319
Email april.roe@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.
2025 Recycling Matters Presentation Series
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 | 10:00am-4:00pm | See here |
| Billy Frank Jr. Celebration | Wednesday, March 19 | Timberline High School | 5:00pm-7:30pm | See here |
| Thurston Green Business Awards | Wednesday, April 9 | St. Martin's Norman Worthington Center | 11:00am-1:00pm | See here |
| 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 | 1:00pm-4:00pm | See above |
| Free Compost Giveaway | Saturday, May 3 | Hawks Prairie Park & Ride | 11:00am-2:00pm | See above |
| 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 |