Master Recycler programs trade training for volunteer hours

SARAH JACKSON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Saturday, March 2, 2002

OLYMPIA -- Master Recyclers volunteers, since 1993, have received specialized training in return for community service in a setup similar to the well-known Master Gardeners and Master Composters programs in Thurston County.

This year's training -- six sessions total -- starts Wednesday, and the class is filling up quickly, said Janine Bogar, the Master Recyclers teacher and educator with the county's waste management department.

"We've been doing this since 1993, but we only do the training once a year."

Master Recyclers get 18 hours of training in exchange for 36 hours of community outreach on behalf of the Master Recyclers program.

Master Recycler volunteers can pay back hours by creating their own projects, helping with office projects, attending booths at community events or by helping out with compost bin sales or the waste department's Community Recycle Day.

Gigi Duff of Tumwater completed her training in 2000 and followed it up with numerous projects.

"It strengthened my passion for it," Duff said, "and it gave me an outlet to teach others to do it."

Volunteers take trips to the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center and Olympia's Dirtworks demonstration garden to learn more about composting.

Evening sessions include guest speakers and discussions about buying recycled products, avoiding and disposing of household hazardous wastes and building "green" as well as topics such as voluntary simplicity and litter control.

"It's a really broad training and we learn everything from the history of solid waste," Bogar said. "We learn what can be recycled and why."

Bogar said a wide variety of people take Master Recycler classes -- from teens to long-standing recyclers.

"There are some people who have already recycled to people who just think it's a good idea and really don't know that much."

Sarah Jackson writes for The Olympian and can be reached at 360-704-6871 or sajackso@olympia.gannett.com.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

back to Home index