Big Blue celebrates five years of service
On June 18 and 19, Yolo County will celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Big Blue Recycling Barn thrift store at the Yolo County Central Landfill. The event will be held each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Saturday being a 50% sale day.
The Big Blue Recycling Barn thrift store was developed to reduce the county’s carbon footprint and meet Yolo County’s objectives focused on waste reduction. It created an opportunity to repurpose items through the store that might otherwise have taken up space in the landfill. Proceeds from the store are now used to further educate residents on related programs.
The Big Blue Barn has diverted 458,000 pounds of waste from the landfill. Yolo County has also educated thousands on the benefits of repurposing and upcycling and received the Pavitra Crimmel Reuse Award for implementation of the most successful reuse program in the state of California by the California Resource Recycling Association.
“As part of our continued efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and close the loop on items traditionally landfilled, Yolo County is now partnering with Visions Recycling, Inc. to start carrying a new product line at the Big Blue Barn,” Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair, Jim Provenza, said.
Visions Recycling takes discarded paint that is delivered to the Yolo County Household Hazardous Waste Facility and remanufactures it into new gallons of paint. The discards from the paint recycling process and old carpet fibers are used to make garden stepping stones and flower pots.
The Big Blue Barn is open to the public the third Friday and Saturday of each month. Following the fiveyear anniversary celebration, the Big Blue Barn will next be open July 16 and 17, Aug. 20 and 21 each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.