Maple Valley Earth Day Fair 2025 recap

On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the Hazardous Waste Management Program proudly partnered with the City of Maple Valley to participate in the annual Maple Valley Earth Day Fair—marking the Program’s second year in a row collaborating on the Earth Day Fair to serve Maple Valley and its surrounding communities.  

With beautiful weather, a strong community turnout, and enthusiastic participation from residents, the event convened Maple Valley-area residents and business owners interested in greener practices and building safer, healthier communities around King County.  

Community partnerships lead to a range of learning opportunities 

The Maple Valley Earth Day Fair began in 2024 as a way to celebrate Earth Month,  promote environmental practices and activities for kids and adults, and to raise general awareness of local sustainability resources.  

At the event, community organizations tabled and offered resources to protect people’s health and the environment. With such broad participation, the event provided a central, "one-stop shop" location for the community to learn more about and engage with a variety of greener, sustainable ways of living.  

The Haz Waste Program’s Residential Services, Business Services, and Collections teams provided a range of services to residents of Maple Valley and neighboring communities at the event, including: 

• Hazardous waste collection at the pop-up Wastemobile;
• Lead education and on-site product testing; 
• Safer cleaning practices education; 
• Neighborhood cleanliness and rat prevention information; and 
• A dedicated table for business owners' hazardous waste resources.

Through these efforts, the Haz Waste Program impactfully served the Maple Valley-area community in the following ways: 

• 103 community members engaged with lead education activities; 
• 34 household items – including ceramics, cookware, and jewelry – were tested for lead; 
• 168 residents participated in safer cleaning education; and 
• 54 people safely disposed used batteries, pesticides, household cleaners, and more at the pop-up Wastemobile event. 

Dozens of community groups were also in attendance, including Green River Coalition, South King County Tool Library, Gifting with Integrity, King County Noxious Weeds, King Conservation District, Tahoma High School Green Team, Soos Creek Water and Sewer District, Cedar River Water and Sewer District, Covington Water District, and the Washington Department of Transportation.  

From resource tables to Recology’s “Touch-a-Truck” behind-the-scenes tour of a garbage truck to free compost giveaways, there was something for everyone to enjoy. 

Follow along for future community events 

The Maple Valley Earth Day Fair is one of many community events that Haz Waste Program staff participate in around King County. Maple Valley will host upcoming sustainability and recycling-related events – visit the city's website for more information. And, as always , keep an eye on the Haz Waste Program events calendar to learn more about upcoming ways to get involved with our free events and workshops that will help you reduce hazardous exposures.