Join Waste Free Greenwich for a day of discovery and action! Our 5th annual ReThink Waste Fair is a family-friendly event designed to help you master the 6 R’s: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, and Rot.
From eco-conscious shopping to expert-led workshops, we’re bringing the community together to make sustainable living simple, practical, and fun.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
🛍️ Eco-Marketplace: Shop curated low-waste products, upcycled accessories, and sustainable beauty essentials.
🍳 Scrappy Cooking: Join Chef Juan Benitez of Juan’s Table for a delicious scrappy cooking demo.
👚 Clothing Care: Missing buttons? Holey shirt? Bring your clothing in need of repair to Meg Hadley Zimmerman for basic repairs. First come, first served. Sign up at Meg’s table.
🌱 Interactive Learning: Hands-on children's activities, composting demos, and mini-workshops on living waste-free (see schedule below).
🏆Community Honors: Celebrate the First Selectman’s Earth Day Proclamation and the Greenwich Sustainability Committee’s annual awards.
SCHEDULE
11:30 - 11:50 am: 🧼 "Conscious Consumers, Substitutions and Waste: How to Phase out Plastics & Use-less" with Maggie Clayton. Discover your purchasing power with tips for less toxic items and easy waste-free solutions that make a big impact. Examples of DIY household cleaning and giveaway bags with better home solutions will be offered. (Waste Free Greenwich Demo Table)
12:00 - 12:30 pm: 🏆 First Selectman's Earth Day Proclamation and Greenwich Sustainability Committee Awards
12:40 - 1:00 pm: 🧪 “The Future of Plastics Recycling Using Protein Research” with Jackson Lieberman, Greenwich Country Day School student. Learn how student research incorporates computer tools to improve plastics recycling through enzymatic processes. (Waste Free Greenwich Demo Table)
1:00 - 1:20 pm: 🧵”Repair, Refresh, Rewear: Reducing Waste Through Clothing Care” with Meghan Hadley Zimmerman. Explore simple techniques to repair, alter, and refresh your clothing so you can rewear your favorite pieces longer and reduce textile waste. Plus, take home basic mending supplies to get started at home! (Meghan’s Repair Table)
1:20- 1:40 pm: 🍎 “Even In The Kitchen, You Can Make A Difference”with Janet Furst, RDN. Examine how the foods we eat can reduce our environmental imprint and what we can do in the kitchen to improve it. (Waste Free Greenwich Demo Table)
2:00 - 2:20 pm: ♻️"Ask the Waste Wizard: Recycle Right" with Julie DesChamps. Master the art of sorting in this interactive session designed to help you reduce waste and recycle right. (Waste Free Greenwich Demo Table)
VENDORS
EcoEvolution: South Norwalk favorite that features vintage finds, upcycled gifts and low/no waste solutions for your home.
ObiObi Japan: handmade bags, jewelry and home decor crafted from repurposed Japanese kimonos & obi belts by a talented Greenwich volunteer group. 100% of proceeds donated to Waste Free Greenwich.
Reboot Eco: zero waste & refill shop based in Middletown offering curated non-toxic home and personal care products that make low-waste living practical and accessible
Three Bluebirds: Swedish dishcloths from 100% natural, biodegradable with unique designs printed by a husband & wife team in Connecticut with water-based inks.
The Dogs of Greenwich: sustainable, high quality dog toys made from discarded fabrics right in Old Greenwich.
beads4better: handcrafted jewelry created from upcycled beads & materials from predominately women-owned businesses from around the globe. 100% of proceeds donated to Waste Free Greenwich.
♻️ RECYCLING -REUSE DRIVE ♻️
The ReThink Waste Fair features a drive for hard to recycle items and supplies for our neighbors in need. Here’s a full list of accepted items for the drive with links to recycling partners and guidelines for donation. Note: we cannot accept any materials that do not follow guidelines.
Batteries (household only, no automotive) to be recycled at Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility
Books, CDs, DVDs + LPs: bring 2-3 for our exchange; remaining items will be donated to Books4Everyone
Cell phones for Cellphones for Soldiers
Eyeglasses & hearing aids for Lion’s Club
Plastic bags, wrap and film for NexTrex via Riverside School Green Schools Committee
Printer ink cartridges to be recycled at Staples
School supplies for Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich (see list for details)
Textiles, including clothing, shoes, accessories, linens & towels, to support recycling education via GRAB
Trial-sized toiletries for New Covenant Center (see list for details)
Food items for the Folsom House food panty at Greenwich High School (see list for details)
PARKING
Parking at the Boys & Girls Club is limited. Please park across the street at the municipal lot on Horseneck Lane. Parking is free on Saturdays. Volunteers will be on hand to assist crossing the street to the event.
Handicap parking is available at the Boys & Girls Club and there is a wheelchair-accessible entrance from the lot.
SUPPORT US
Waste Free Greenwich is a 501(c)(3) organization run 100% by volunteers and depends on community support. With your help, Waste Free Greenwich will continue to engage, empower and education the Greenwich community to waste less. Please make your tax-deductible donation HERE or contribute a suggested donation of $5 at the door for a chance to win a raffle prize!