WSU Island County Waste Wise Program
Program Contact: Sarah Bergquist, Waste Wise Program Coordinator
360-639-6062 • sarah.bergquist@wsu.edu
Waste Wise Volunteers come from all walks of life and share the conviction that we must care for these beautiful islands to protect our quality of life. That includes generating less waste and living with lower impact. We do this by learning to be more deliberate about our purchasing choices and more careful with our waste. We rethink our approach by carefully considering ways to reduce what goes to the landfill. By reducing, reusing, repairing, composting and recycling we lower our impact.
Waste Wise was formed in 1992 and originally called Waste Warriors. It is a volunteer organization administered by Washington State University Extension for Island County. Volunteers receive 4-6 weeks of classroom training on techniques for reducing waste and living a more sustainable life. In return, they agree to give back 30 hours of community service as a volunteer or sharing what they’ve learned with the community in other ways.
What Waste Wise Volunteers Do
Waste Wise Volunteers share ideas and techniques with the community in a variety of educational and practical ways, including:
- Assist with annual training sessions on Camano and Whidbey Islands
- Lead community education classes
- Create educational displays
- Staff educational booths at fairs and festivals
- Manage recycle bins at community events
- Offer composting demonstration site at Admiralty Head Lighthouse
- Provide education programs/presentations for schools
- Presentations to businesses
- Guest speaker at Service-club meetings
- Design brochures and other educational materials
- and customizable opportunities based on your interests!
Upcoming Classes and Events
Annual Training
Waste Wise training is conducted on both Whidbey Island and Camano Island.
Training for Camano Island will be 6 Mondays starting April 13th and concluding on May 18th of 2026. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Heather Vitiaz at 360-639-6040 or heather.vitaz@wsu.edu
Training for Whidbey Island is planned for fall of 2026 with exact dates TBD. For more details, please contact Sarah Bergquist at 360-639-6062 or by email at sarah.bergquist@wsu.edu for Whidbey Island details.
Eco Book Club
2nd Monday of each month – launching March 9th
In person at Camano Library and online
Contact: heather.vititaz@wsu.edu or 360-639-6040
Camano Homesteading Fair
Saturday, May 16th, 10 am – 2 pm, Camano Island Library-Terry’s Corner
Annual Plastic Plant Pot Exchange
Saturday, May 30th, 10 am – 12 noon, Camano Can Ku Road
Program Support
The Waste Wise program is grateful for the ongoing financial support of the Lighthouse Environmental Program (LEP). LEP, primarily through the sale of the LEP Lighthouse license plate, funds both environmental programs such as Waste Wise, and lighthouses across the state.