“In nature’s economy the currency is not money, it is life.” — Vandana Shiva
Happy Earth Day! Over the years, The Big Fresno Fair has taken enormous strides to not only build its clean and green practices as a facility but promote conservation to Fairgoers. The Fair’s “Clean & Green” Program was started in 2006 and now includes the following:
- Striving for Zero Waste: The Big Fresno Fair continues its partnership with Mid Valley Disposal to divert as much waste as possible from the Fair! This program targets food vendors, livestock department and the public – our Fairgoers!
Mid Valley Disposal first implemented the organics recycling program for food vendors in 2014, working successfully with 45 of our food vendors to divert their waste! Since then, each year Mid Valley comes out to meet with vendors and instruct them on how to divert as much waste as possible by utilizing the 64-gallon organics recycling carts. Mid Valley Disposal also provides 2-yard organics recycling bins throughout the Livestock Pavilion, in addition to collecting food waste from the produce displays in the Agriculture Building. Last year alone, more than 837 tons of waste was diverted. Also, because of their diversion efforts, Corn Stars was named the 2018 Recycler of the Year for diverting over 1,300 pounds of organic material from their food booth each day.
Mid Valley Disposal and The Big Fresno Fair first introduced the separated trash bins for Fairgoers in 2016. These different colored bins are placed in seating areas throughout the Fairgrounds for Fairgoers to use; compostable (Green bins), recycling (Blue bins) and garbage (Brown bins). We are encouraging all Fairgoers to STOP.THINK.SORT. at this year’s Fair! During the 12 days of the 2018 Big Fresno Fair, we collected 40.56 tons of recyclable materials, 193.8 tons of organic waste and 603.54 tons of trash items. Total diversion rate for the 2018 Big Fresno Fair was 234.36 tons. This is yet another way the Fair is promoting and educating the public on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle!
- LED Lights: All light fixtures and bulbs have been converted to LED to provide brighter and more energy-efficient lighting for Fairgoers and interim rental guests to enjoy. This also has greatly reduced the Fair’s overall energy costs and positively will affect the environment.
- Low Flow Toilets: In 2016, the Fair installed 115 new low flow toilets in the Brian I. Tatarian Grandstand to help conserve water.
- Drought Resistant Area: The Fair is doing its part to conserve water given California’s inclination to drought years, as well educate Fairgoers on what landscaping options are drought tolerant. In 2014, a Drought Resistant Landscaping Area was added next to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Pavilion Stage as an alternative option to various types of traditional gardening that any Fairgoer can relate to when it comes to reducing the need for supplemental water! Then in 2015, a newly dedicated Union Park area was added and put on display in the Pavilion area featuring alternative landscaping options.
- Bicycle Parking: The Fair will continue to provide bicycle racks for those biking enthusiasts who want to ride to the Fair and help spare the air. The bicycle racks are located in the Chance Avenue parking lot!
- Pervious Concrete: First added in 2009, this type of concrete allows water to seep through back to the water tables quicker. The Fair has placed this pervious concrete in front of the entrance to the paddock in the Brian I. Tatarian Grandstand, one of our highest traffic areas!
- Rubber Recycling: Nearly 13,000 tires were saved from being dumped into California landfills by the Fair utilizing various tire-derived rubber flooring products that were installed around the Fairgrounds. This project was made possible by a $400,000 grant from the California Integrated Waste Management.
- Solar Panels: In 2007, a $5 million photovoltaic system project was installed at the Fairgrounds that includes more than 14,000 solar panels. One of the largest solar panel projects in the entire Fair industry, the solar panels help produce 800KW of its own electricity daily! It costs about $25,000 annually in order to maintain the solar panels, but the Fair saves over $100,000 annually on its energy bill by using this energy-efficient technology.
- Comprehensive Recycling Program: The Big Fresno Fair has a comprehensive recycling program that collects cardboard, paper and plastic year-round, as well as concrete, oil, grass clippings, tree trimmings and much more, saving an incredible amount of waste from our landfills. The Fair also recycles vegetable oil from food vendors’ fryers during the Fair! Plus, in 2017, the Fair has added food waste recycling to divert even more trash.
- Grounds Improvements: Over the years, the Fair has planted thousands of new trees and installed more than two and a half miles of pop-up sprinklers, which has helped reduce the amount of dust in the environment and cut down on the amount of water used to keep the dust out of the air.
- Chemical Free Cleaners: In 2008, the Fair started using specialized cleaners that are significantly less damaging to the environment than normal cleaners. The Fair uses 100% recycled toilet paper.
The Fair will continue its Clean & Green Program in 2024!