GREEN RIVER – Ocean water levels are rising while glaciers continue to shrink. A little closer to home the landfills are filling up and there are questions about what exactly is going into the ground. The Green River Earth Day Fair had a large turnout to learn several interesting ways to help the environment.

For the second year, the City of Green River’s Solid Waste Division presented this event with help from the URA/Main Street Agency and the Historic Preservation Commission. The UW Extension Office, the Green River Beltway and Sweetwater County Library were just a few of the groups participating.

Demonstrations included a food canning lesson, crafts made out of unwanted old books, planting and organic foods along with literature on recycling and which vegetation grows best in the area.

There was also a fashion and art show which showcased items made from repurposed materials. The fashion show spotlighted new fashions from hand-me-downs, throwbacks and also reused materials.

The City of Green River Sanitation Department Supervisor Linda Roosa said they decided to do this fair to bring awareness about the preservation of the planet and how it can be done in a number of ways. She said not only does a lot of it lead to a cleaner city, it also saves resources such as water and energy.

“It’s all about reducing, reusing and recycling,” Roosa said.

In her field of work, Roosa deals with damage done to the earth of a daily basis. She said people do not realize things they throw away contain toxins and these toxins can seep into the ground and waterways. She specifically spoke of plastic bottles and the petroleum used to make them.

“We need to watch what we use and what we are throwing away,” Roosa said. “People just need to remember the three things, reduce, reuse and recycle.”