Snoqualmie’s Railroad Days festival, which returns in August, brings 15,000 people from across the region.

Last year, Waste Management participated by providing trained sorting station staff to help educate the public about how to properly dispose of the garbage, recycling and compost generated at the event.

This year, through a Think Green and Keep America Beautiful grant, the host organization, Northwest Railway Museum, can take its zero waste goals to a new level.

The largest source of garbage at the event is the non-recyclable and non-compostable service ware products food vendors used. Despite the great efforts event participants make in diverting waste, most of the waste cannot be diverted. The $4,000 grant will help cover the costs of compostable packaging for the event’s food vendors.

By doing this, and continuing to assist event staff and event participants with successful sorting, sponsors seek to create a waste free event for the 2014 Railroad Days. The grant is also providing for a zero-waste vendor guide.