When the 2013 Kitsap County Fair and Stampede opens Aug. 21, fairgoers and vendors will be introduced to a brand new recycling initiative.

The Kitsap County Fair and Stampede has partnered with Keep America Beautiful and the Alcoa Foundation to increase waste reduction, recycling and composting through the strategic placement of recycling bins across the fairgrounds.

The Kitsap County Solid Waste Division is also providing an educational booth, designed to raise awareness about the environmental and economic impact of recycling throughout Kitsap.

“We are incredibly fortunate to be working with Keep America Beautiful and Alcoa Foundation to bring the best practices in recycling to the best fair in the U.S.,” said Josh Brown, Kitsap County commissioner. “The vast knowledge and support that these partners bring will help us make tremendous strides in keeping Washington beautiful.”

The Kitsap County Fair and Stampede is one of three fairs in the U.S. selected to receive a $10,000 grant from Alcoa Foundation to fund additional recycling bins, technical and communications tools, support and training, and the identification of cost-effective practices, all managed by national nonprofit KAB.

The initiative in Kitsap County includes placing nearly 50 new, well-marked recycling bins for public space areas as well as 20 new wheeled bins to move vendor materials. Recycling questions will be answered at the education booth staffed by the Kitsap County Solid Waste Division. A team of recycling ambassadors will rove the fairgrounds to provide support and guidance to fairgoers and vendors, and ensure that the recyclables are put in the proper receptacles.

The 2013 Kitsap County Fair runs through Aug. 25, providing entertainment and an opportunity to promote recycling awareness among nearly 80,000 visitors. Tons of cardboard and metal will be generated. Metal – particularly that in aluminum cans – is especially desirable as a recyclable material, as it can be recycled an infinite number of times.

It takes only a fraction of the energy to make aluminum products from recycled materials than when starting from raw materials. As the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, Alcoa and Keep America Beautiful partnered in 2012 on this unique Clinton Global Initiative to improve recycling and waste reduction at state and county fairs.