The Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce will once again partner with Allied Waste Services to promote and emphasize recycling and composting at Connoisseurs’ Marketplace, Menlo Park’s popular festival of the arts, July 18-19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Santa Cruz Avenue.

“We’re committed to making the festival as eco-friendly as possible –– it’s something we hope to improve upon each year,” said Fran Dehn, President/CEO of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve taken steps to make it easier than ever for festivalgoers and vendors to support our effort to conserve resources by recycling and composting.”

Food vendors will be required to use recyclable and compostable serving utensils. Large brown bins will be placed in the food areas for composting left-over food scraps including meat and bones, paper plates, cups, chopsticks, skewers and napkins. Food vendors will be provided with separate composting bins placed behind their booths.

This material will be collected and added to Allied Waste’s existing Commercial Composting collection program. “We’re pleased to partner again with the Chamber of Commerce and appreciate the concerted effort they’ve made,” said Elaine Sobouti, Recycling Coordinator for the city of Menlo Park. “The festival has made great strides the past few years and these efforts will further help the city of Menlo Park in meeting the State’s mandated diversion efforts.”

Recycling is another major component of the “greening” effort. Containers will be positioned throughout the festival route for recycling of glass, plastic and aluminum with separate containers for cardboard and mixed paper.

The festival is also encouraging the use of public transportation and bicycles to minimize carbon emissions and reduce vehicular traffic. Downtown Menlo Park has more than 80 bicycle parking racks along Santa Cruz Avenue. The Caltrain/Samtrans station conveniently drops riders off one short block from the festival.

Allied Waste Services (formerly BFI) is the second largest vertically integrated solid waste management company in the industry which offers debris box, recycling and garbage services for residential and commercial customers. For additional information, please go to: http://www.alliedwastesanmateocounty.com.