Media Invited To Celebration Event Of Clark County’s We Compost Program’s Record-setting Year, Diverting 186,000 Pounds Of Food Waste From The Landfill - 02/06/26
Media Advisory
NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST
When: 9 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, 2025
Where: Please RSVP to Kaley McLachlan-Burton, Clark County Public Works PIO, to receive location information.
What: The media is invited to join Clark County Public Works in celebrating the residents and community partners who worked together to divert 186,000 pounds of food waste in 2025, through the We Compost program. The program diverts residents’ household food waste from the landfill, sending it to make nutrient-rich compost instead. Through community hub locations throughout the county, the program provides access to composting, especially for residents with limited ability to compost at home, such as those living in apartments and residents outside residential curbside organics service areas. Community hub food scrap drop-off locations are hosted by churches, businesses and educational facilities.
Event agenda
- 11:15: Presentation by Clark County Solid Waste Operations staff about the county’s innovative strategies to divert food waste from the landfill, data about the program’s record-breaking success and plans for the future of the program
- 11:30: Presentation from commercial compost facility Dirt Hugger’s co-founder, Pierce Louis; Dirt Hugger, located in Dallesport, WA, is the facility where food and yard debris from Clark County is sent to be commercially composted
- 12: Video featuring a Waste Connections of Washington organics service route driver
- 12:15: Guided roundtable discussion with community hub site leaders
Clark County staff and community hub site leaders will be available for interviews after the scheduled activities conclude at 1 p.m. Media are invited to record videos and take photos at the community hub site where the celebration takes place.
Why: Now in its fourth year, the We Compost program increases access to composting in Clark County. There are currently 17 community hub locations in the county, where any resident can compost their household food waste for free. The program inspires residents to reduce waste and compost food scraps, in support of Clark County’s efforts to meet Washington’s organics management goals. By composting food scraps, nutrients in food are recycled back into the soil. Composting food scraps also reduces landfilled organic matter, which reduces emissions that contribute to climate change.
Learn more about the program at clark.wa.gov/public-works/clark-county-we-compost-community-hubs.