Since July 2010, Salem Saturday Market has been offering full composting and recycling services.
All of the food vendors serve compostable materials and offer reusable utensils, which greatly reduces the garbage produced at Salem Saturday Market.
In 2011, the project earned a Mid-Willamette Valley Green Award for Recycler of the Year! We also earned a Recycler of the Year award from the Association of Oregon Recyclers!
Check out our Zero Waste Zone summary flier for more info on how the program works.
For Zero Waste Zone volunteers: Here’s what you need to know to volunteer at a Zero Waste Station: ZWZ Volunteer Cheat Sheet (Updated August 2011)
For SSM Vendors: The only serving materials that can be used at Salem Saturday Market are found on this list: Allowed Disposables List, updated May 2011
If you have a question about the list or adding an item that doesn’t appear there, please email
zerowaste@friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.org.
Volunteer: The project is organized by a dedicated bunch of volunteers called the Zero Waste Workgroup. Volunteers are needed to staff the Zero Waste Stations on Saturdays. If you’ve got a few hours to spare and want to help educate the public, we would love to have you volunteer! Email: zerowaste@friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.org.
Excess items: The Salvation Army arrives at the end of each day to pick up unsold produce, pastries, and other food items that would otherwise be thrown in the garbage. These go to an emergency shelter and to a local food pantry.
Whether you are a market vendor, an interested member of the public or a potential volunteer, please feel free to contact us with your questions and thoughts: zerowaste@friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.org, 503-877-FSSM (3776).
