Ask a Master Recycler
Get your recycling questions answered
Skagit County Master Composter Recyclers will be available one Saturday each month from April through October, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Skagit County Transfer & Recycling Center (14104 Ovenell Rd, Mount Vernon). Stationed in the recycling area staff shed, they’ll answer residents’ questions while you drop off materials at the free recycling drop-off area. Stop by to pick up helpful tips, learn what belongs in your recycling bin, and make your recycling routine easier and more effective!
Upcoming Summer Dates to Ask a Master Recycler:
- Saturday, July 25thÂ
- Saturday, August 22ndÂ
Reduction, Reuse & Repair Tip of the Month
Small actions that reduce waste, with ideas for reusing and repairing along the way.
Fix It Together: Choosing Repair over Replacement
 Photo source: Repair & Reuse Washington
Simple tips to help you recycle the right way and stay informed about upcoming changes.
Kevin the Marmot is Back with an Important Reminder
 Photo source: Washington State Department of Ecology
Summer means cleaning out garages, yard work, and trips to Skagit County's recycling and garbage drop-off sites. It also means more stuff riding in trucks, trailers, and cars on the road.
June is also Secure Your Load Month in Washington, a statewide reminder that securing what you haul helps prevent crashes, litter, and dangerous road debris.
That’s where Kevin the Marmot comes in!
Kevin reminds us: secure your load before you hit the road. Once you leave your driveway, anything loose in your vehicle can become everyone’s problem.
Loose items like trash bags, branches, cardboard, furniture, or scrap metal can fly out or fall onto the road. That’s not just messy—it’s dangerous. In Washington, 324 crashes in one year were caused by unsecured loads, and many could have been prevented with a few straps or a tarp.
Watch Kevin’s video, “Loading the Truck,” to see how to properly secure a carload.
Before you haul:
- Tie it down or contain it
- Cover loose items with a tarp or net
- Double-check before you drive
Even quick trips to drop-off sites need safe loads. Most road debris comes from everyday vehicles, not big trucks.
Why it matters
Unsecured loads also create a lot of roadside litter—about 40% of debris on Washington roads comes from items that fall or blow out of vehicles. That means safer hauling helps keep both roads and communities clean.
This June, join Washington’s Secure Your Load Month effort by taking a few extra minutes to secure and cover your load before every trip.
Secure it. Cover it. Check it twice.
Then head out knowing your cleanup won’t create a new mess on the road.
Learn more: Secure Your Load Washington
Organics Tip of the Month
A quick guide to new organics rules, with tips for everyday composting.
Simple Swaps: Savvier Choices Than Compostable Plastics
That takeout container might say “compostable,” but in Skagit County, that doesn’t mean it can go in your green cart.
Even if it’s labeled compostable plastic, these items are NOT accepted in curbside green waste carts or at local industrial composting facilities. They don’t break down the right way in our system.
That means compostable plastic food containers, cups, and utensils should not go in the green bin—and they also should not go in the blue recycling cart or at Skagit County recycling drop-off sites. They can contaminate both recycling and compost loads.
So what should you do instead?
If it’s a compostable plastic food service item, it goes in the garbage.
It can feel confusing, but here’s the simple rule:
- Food scraps and yard waste → green cart
- Recyclables (clean paper, bottles, cans) → blue cart
- “Compostable” plastic service ware → garbage
A simple swap that reduces waste
One easy way to cut down on single-use containers is to bring your own reusable container for takeout or leftovers. In Washington State, this is legally allowed, but restaurants are not required to accept them. If they do, they must follow strict food safety rules under the Washington State Retail Food Code.
That means:
- Your container must be clean and sanitary
- Restaurants may require safe transfer methods to avoid contamination, or ask you to transfer food yourself
- Businesses must have an approved plan on file with the local health department to accept customer-owned containers
Because of these requirements, some restaurants may choose not to accept reusable containers. If you want to try it:
-
Call ahead to ask if they accept BYO containers
- It may be easier when transferring leftovers from your own plate at the table
This small swap—bringing a reusable container when it works—helps reduce single-use waste before it starts.
Bottom line: In Skagit County, compostable plastics don’t go in compost. And reusables, when possible, are the better “waste-free” choice.
Photo: Take-out deli items packaged in compostable plastic.
A curated mix of what we’re loving, learning, and paying attention to.
By Anne Marie Bonneau of Zero-Waste Chef
Think that countertop “composter” turns food scraps into compost? Not quite. A new article breaks down how these expensive kitchen gadgets actually just dehydrate and grind food waste—not compost it—and may not reduce waste the way marketing claims suggest.
Before you buy into the hype, read why real composting (and reducing food waste) works very differently—and what actually helps keep food out of landfills.
Kevin the Marmot blooper reels, environmental health safety tips, updates, and more!
By Caroline Fraser for the New York Review
Upcoming Events
Fix-It Days, June 27, 9 am to 2 pm, Anacortes Farmers Market, 611 R Ave, Anacortes
Help avoid throwing out and replacing broken items! Bring them in and the Transition Fidalgo repair team will evaluate and fix your item, if possible. Examples: appliances, tools, lamps, clothing, and more. When in doubt, bring it in and they’ll gladly assess. Donations to Transition Fidalgo community group for the repairs, are welcome.
Concrete Youth Activity Day 2026, July 16, 10 am to 2 pm, Silo Park, Concrete
The event brings together local organizations and youth programs to offer games, hands-on activities, and community resources—all in one place. It’s designed to help families connect with services and opportunities for kids without having to travel far.
Expect a fun, welcoming atmosphere with activities, information booths, and resources for youth and families.
Ask a Master Recycler, July 25, 10 am to 2 pm, Skagit County Recycling & Transfer Station
Stationed in the recycling area staff shed, they’ll answer residents’ questions while you drop off materials at the free recycling drop-off area. Stop by to pick up helpful tips, learn what belongs in your recycling bin, and make your recycling routine easier and more effective!
Anacortes Farmers Market, July 25, 9 am to 2 pm, Depot Arts Plaza, Anacortes
Sedro Woolley Farmers Market, July 29, 3 pm to 7 pm, Hammer Heritage Square, Sedro Woolley
Skagit County Fair, August 6th through 9th, 10 am to 10 pm each day, Skagit County Fairgrounds, Mount Vernon
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