Description
The Chowan County Regional Fair is an annual event, which on average attracts more than 20,000 patrons to the fairgrounds. In 2008, the fair started its recycling efforts with a themed recycling campaign called “We’re Having a Green Fair” which promoted the concepts of sustainability for those visiting the fair.

Implementation
Each year most of the food is served on paper plates or napkins, some of the dinners are served in Styrofoam containers. The fair is currently working on stopping the use of Styrofoam, but it is still being used by some vendors. Most beverages are served in cans or paper cups.

Throughout the fairgrounds, ClearStream recycling bins for bottles and cans are placed next to designated trash receptacles. The paper, cardboard and cooking oil is hauled outside the fairgrounds to containers near the parking lot. In 2008 the fairgrounds gave each vendor a copy of its recycling policies prior to the festivities and found a very low level of incidences with the vendors on recycling policies.

The fair has one large container for all recycled products which the workers are responsible for handling internally. Additionally the fair has a large container for trash and cooking oil containers for the excess material that is reprocessed. Because TFC Recycling, the company which handles the materials post-event, is a single stream facility, the workers at the fair are able to commingle the recyclables which reduces the workload for the employees at the event. While the event is taking place the bins have to be emptied periodically, usually not exceeding once a day. Occasionally during the weekends, the bins need to be emptied on a more regular basis.

Results
The Chowan County Regional Fair has had great successes thus far with its recycling efforts. It was essential during its first year recycling to keep communication lines open between both the vendors supplying the products to the guests and the companies providing the service of picking up the recyclables post-event. Because the fair was run primarily by volunteer efforts, it was necessary to place an emphasis on communication so that the recycling objectives were effectively reached.