The tenth annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair will be held Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds from 10 AM–5PM. Guests at the Earth Day Fair are asked to meet PEA’s Zero Waste Challenge. The goal is to not send any waste to the landfill when the event is over. With that objective in mind, event organizers provide Zero Waste Stations that include recycling and composting bins and volunteers who educate the public on what items can be composted or recycled. No “trash” cans are provided—so any non-recyclable, non-compostable trash generated by exhibitors or guests must be taken home.
PEA encourages guests to think creatively about ways to reduce or eliminate waste on Earth Day, as well as the rest of the year. This initiative aims to minimize the environmental impact of the Fair and furthers PEA’s mission to educate the public about practical ways to be sustainable.
“It’s easy to significantly reduce the waste your family generates, if you understand what can be composted or recycled,” said Kristin Wiggins, PEA’s executive director. “We hosted 10,000 people at last year’s Fair, and only generated three bags of landfill waste, mostly filled with items brought in by our guests. This year, we hope to decrease that by at least 50 percent.”
Keeping with the Fair’s Zero Waste Challenge, all food and beverages will be served on recyclable or compostable products so nothing ends up in the landfill. In addition, the Fair’s food and beverage vendors are asked to provide food free from artificial additives, preservatives or food coloring, meat from animals raised humanely and without growth hormones, and fair trade tea and coffee.
The Fair’s variety of food options includes Mexican prepared-to-order, organic hot dogs, vegetarian and vegan dishes, ice cream and more from the following vendors:
- Angie's Italian Ice
- Cafe Gelato
- Dewey's/Blue Ridge Ice Cream
- du Mexique
- Foothills Brewing
- Fresh Lemonade
- Grove Winery & Vineyards
- Meridian Restaurant
- Picnic at the Fair
- River Ridge Taphouse
- Truckin' w/ Tipsy'z