Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson is the recycling and compost leader in his family. He views his leadership role at home and at work as an important part of environmental sustainability and stewardship.

But he also saves money on his garbage bill by recycling and composting as much as he can.

Larson and his family of six fit all their weekly garbage in a 20-gallon garbage container — the smallest size available. He also has two worm bins where he composts fruit and vegetable trimmings from the kitchen. He says his family recycles as much as 80 percent of their waste. The Larson family has found multiple recycling methods that help both the environment and his pocketbook.

“Recycling is smart and simple economics,” Larson said. “By recycling more, residents can reduce their monthly garbage bill by up to 40 percent. See if you and your family can do better at recycling and help the environment while you’re at it.”

This spring, the city of Snoqualmie will put your recycling knowledge to the test with the Neighborhood Recycling Challenge. Compete against the mayor to see if you can out-recycle him and his family. Starting April 24, contestants will compete to see who can reduce their garbage by the most weight. In the month-long challenge, contestants’ garbage will be weighed to see who has produced the least trash. Winners will be announced May 22.

To sign up, contact me at (360) 271-0788 or e-mail to pirtlp@uw.edu.