[FMC] Farmers Market Waste Management

[Zachary Lyons]

Hi all,

In the spirit of recent introductions, I am Zachary Lyons.  I served  
as Executive Director of the Washington State Farmers Market  
Association from 1999-2005, and I currently serve as Vice President  
of the Seattle Chefs Collaborative.  I also write about food and  
agriculture, and I organize events that promote local food.

I am researching the topic of waste management at farmers markets,  
and I am interested in feedback from any and all of you.  I will give  
you some starter questions, but I am interested in any ideas and  
experiences you would like to share with me about market waste  
management.  Please email me directly at zach at cowswithguns.com.  No  
need to clog up this list with responses.

Does your market have prepared food vendors?  If so, how do you  
handle the waste they generate?
Does your market have a recycling program?
How does your market deal with compostable waste?
Do you require your vendors to haul out their own waste, or do you  
provide receptacles?
Does your market prohibit any packaging or serving materials, such as  
plastic bags, styrofoam containers, non-compostable plates, etc.?
Does your market have a "zero-waste" program in place?

I appreciate any information you can provide.

Thank you,

Zachary Lyons