On April 16, 2011, the City of Foster City and the Environmental Sustainability Task Force is hosting an Earth Day Fair from 10 AM to 3 PM in the City Hall Plaza, 610 Foster City Blvd. The 2011 Earth Day Fair will be focused on the 3Rs of Sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, to encourage everyone to reduce the amount and toxicity of trash they throw away by reusing products, recycling as much as possible and buying products with the least environmental impact and/or recycled content.

Fair Activities. This family-friendly fair will feature food, live music, children’s arts and crafts activities and magician/juggler performances at 11 AM, 12:30 PM and 2 PM.

Green Vendors. Vendors will showcase green products and services to help attendees reduce their impact on the environment, save money and live greener and healthier. Examples include jewelry made of recycled materials, reusable bags and green home design services.

Education and Information. Booths will be set up to teach about easy and convenient ways to recycle and compost. Attendees will learn how to get rebates for reducing energy use, options for alternative transportation, and how to be involved in environmental initiatives in the City of Foster City.

Safe and Sustainable Disposal. Unneeded or expired pharmaceuticals will be collected for proper disposal. (Only legal pharmaceuticals in pill form are accepted.) Plastic sandwich bags and juice pouches will be collected and sent to Terracycle®, where they are turned into affordable green products. Free document shredding of up to 3 standard banker boxes per person will be available. An electronics waste recycling drop-off area will also be featured.

Active Re-use. Local non-profits will accept used goods, promoting re-use to benefit the community. A centerpiece of the 2011 fair is the Freecycle and Swap Meet area, where neighbors can drop-off unneeded household items and then “shop” the other donated items and take home a “new” treasure. All for free!

Anyone can participate by bringing used items! The following are examples of items will be accepted in the freecycle area, but check the website for a complete list: Clothing, shoes, accessories, linens, towels, bedding, housewares, small appliances, dishes, glassware, pots, pans, silverware, tools, jewelry, collectibles, toys, games, books, arts and craft items, musical instruments, sporting goods, bicycles and luggage.

For more information about the 2011 Earth Day Fair or to volunteer, visit: www.fostercity.org/news/Earth-Day-Fair.cfm, email gogreen@fostercity.org or call (650) 286-3291. Or, you can follow us on Twitter @fcearthday or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fcearthday.

The Earth Day Fair is the marquee public event designed to promote environmental sustainability to those who live and work in and around Foster City. Thank you to our Earth Day Fair sponsors Copyland Printing, Foster City Executive Park, Gilead Sciences, Jennifer Townhill Photography, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Recology San Mateo County, and Riggs Distributing, Inc.