Wilton Go Green is launching something new and exciting this year. In lieu of the Wilton Go Green Festival, which has been an outdoor feature in downtown Wilton for the past seven years, WGG is putting on a “Zero Waste Faire”–an indoor event for the entire community. The Zero Waste Faire is scheduled for March 25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Wilton High School Field House.

The Zero Waste Faire will be an engaging, educational, and fun event for people of all ages.  It will feature a broad range of interactive exhibits to help people become involved in Wilton’s effort to become a zero waste community.

Recycling Trucks:  these will be parked at the Clune lot. Take 2 Inc. will accept electronics of all kinds (TVs, computers, cell phones, laptops, printers, monitors, tablets, video games, DVD players, stereos, batteries, and more). They will also have a truck with a mobile hard drive shredder. Junkluggers will also be on site to accept furniture and other household items.

Zero Waste Living:  featuring displays and exhibits on a variety of topics. Those topics include:  how to go zero waste at home, including how to conserve water using rain barrels; how to preserve food to reduce food waste; how to plan a zero waste party; how to eat out zero waste; how to shop package free; alternatives to plastic and kitchen wrap; zero waste pet care; opting out of junk mail; a showcase of innovative products that can contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle; and so much more.

Interactive Nature Education:  The Faire is fun for the whole family, thanks to wildlife exhibits for kids. Earthplace’s unique “Enviroscape” exhibit, vermicomposting for kids, marine environment protection, and more!

Crafts and Activities:  up-cycling art, poster-making, family yoga, fun recycling relays and much more!

Zero Waste Management:  Exhibitors will share a variety of ways to compost, how to repurpose, donate and reuse to reduce waste, and information about recycling a variety of materials that would otherwise go to landfill or for incineration.

Farming education:  Information on raising chickens, joining a CSA, planning a backyard vegetable garden, growing seedlings, hydroponics, beekeeping, maple syrup, and more!

Food demos:  including WGG’s very own Heather Priest teaching how to cook using food scraps, how to prepare zero waste lunches, shopping and meal planning.

Progress sharing:  Exhibitors from around the area who have made great progress in promoting zero waste in schools, municipalities and their communities. A schools roundtable will be held among teachers, students, administrators, parents and residents to talk about how to build on our community efforts. A “Sustainable Wilton” map will allow everyone to share how they are contributing to our sustainable community.

Film festival:  Showing short films on a variety of topics.

Demos:  on a variety of ways to go Zero Waste at home.

Zero Waste Challenge:  Join the 10 week Zero Waste Challenge!

Speakers:   A day long roster of speakers talking about topics ranging from “Furthering Food Scrap Recycling in Fairfield County” and “Going Beyond How We See Objects and How We Value Stuff” to “Solving the garbage problem while creating a generation of kids who care” and “Native American Approach to Sustainability in CT”.

Entertainers:  A slate of Wilton-grown talent organized by Wilton’s very own Janet Nobles!

Electric cars:  Check out the BMW i8 and i3 and Tesla Model X

Lots of extras: There will be a silent auction, drawings and giveaways throughout the day; look for “Captain Zero” (aka Dr. John Priest) flying around the event!

Also available will be a Zero Waste Feast, featuring a special zero waste menu offered by Chartwells, and a hydration station, where people can bring their water bottles to fill up. No single use plastic such as water bottles will be sold, so attendees are asked to bring their own water bottle/coffee tumbler or purchase one at the Faire.

The goal of the Zero Waste Faire is not only to educate and inspire people to divert waste to compost and recycling but offers a wide variety of ways to reduce what we purchase, repurpose what we can ourselves, and donate what we can’t. As it is a Zero Waste Event, organizers are encouraging exhibitors to use QR codes so that visitors can digitally capture information rather than give away paper handouts.

The event is hosted by Wilton Go Green, and is organized by a dynamic volunteer committee of school faculty, students, parents and community members. There is no charge to attend, although Wilton Go Green welcomes donations and suggests $5 per person, $10 per family. All funds raised will go to funding Wilton Go Green’s programs, such as the Wilton No Idling initiative and the Wilton Zero Waste Schools program.

GOOD Morning Wilton is thrilled to be the event’s media sponsor. In addition, the other sponsors are:

Emerald Partner

Aquarion Water Company

Silver Partners

The Junkluggers
Take 2

Community Partners

Willa Ratner Designs
Paul’s Prosperous Printing
Whole Foods

For more information about the Zero Waste Faire, follow Wilton Go Green on Facebook and Instagram, and for up to date information on exhibitors and event features, contact Daphne Dixon, executive director of Wilton Go Green via email or visit the Wilton Go Green website.