Farmers Market vendors try reusable plates for a day

Any permanent changes put off until next year

By John Dodge | The Olympian • Published August 16, 2008

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Waste reduction and recycling took a one-day step forward Friday at Olympia Farmers Market.

But patrons of the market will have to wait until next year for any major changes in the market's recycling program.

On Friday, about 400 ceramic plates donated by children and others were used to serve food from five of the seven market eateries, eliminating many of the paper plates and food containers that normally land in the garbage.

In addition, a dishwashing station was placed next to the stage where patrons could bring their plates, get them washed and take them home as a souvenir.

The dishwashing was accompanied by a lot of music, a puppet show, and clowning and pie throwing by Jusby the Clown, thus the name of the event: Performance Dishwashing.

The event, sponsored by the Olympia Arts Commission and city Parks, Arts & Recreation Department, was the brainchild of Olympia artist Bil Fleming, who spent a lot of his time Friday afternoon washing dishes.

Fleming's goal — and that of the city's Zero Waste program — is to move more city residents, businesses and government offices away from the use of disposable items such as plates and plastic utensils in favor of reusable food ware.

"I'd like to change some of these behaviors single-handedly, but this is just one idea," he said. "Maybe there's even better ones out there."

Fleming drew inspiration for the performance dishwashing event from a visit nearly two years ago to a German beer garden. At the beer garden, patrons paid a deposit for their ceramic food plate and glass beer mug. Once done drinking and eating, they could return them to a dishwashing station and receive their deposit back, or take the items home with them.

There doesn't appear to be a lot of support for reusable food utensils and plates at the market, said vendors and market general manager Charlie Haney.

However, next year, the market likely will open with a food waste and contaminated food paper products recycling program for the public akin to what the city began offering city residents this summer.

Currently, market visitors can recycle glass, aluminum and certain plastic containers, but not food waste.

This year, food waste recycling was introduced for the market vendors and eateries to use, Haney noted.

"I wanted to first get my food vendors on top of it before introducing it in the public areas," she said.

Patrons of the market are ready to recycle more, said Teresa Ricklick, co-manager of Dingey's, a market eatery that specializes in seafood.

"We have customers trying to give us back their paper plates for recycling," she said.

Elizabeth She used a ceramic plate Friday for lunch but questioned whether they would work at the market because of concerns with breakage and hygiene.

However, she predicted food waste and food paper product recycling will be well-received next year.

"I signed up immediately when the city of Olympia started offering it," she said.

John Dodge covers the environment and energy for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5444 or jdodge@theolympian.com.