Recent environmental discoveries have given even more urgency to the need for recycling. Vendors and organizations at the fair are doing their part to help.

One of the newest additions to the fair, SAVE Foundation, brings a message of change. All around Helena, SAVE collects paper, plastic, and aluminum from about 50 businesses. Every 2 months, they hold a plastics drive, collecting types 1 and 2 plastics. In addition, they promote electric cars, such as the MILES electric vehicles, which can now legally drive up to 35 mph on 45mph roads in Montana. Some of the SAVE trucks run on biofuel from cooking oil. The organization also wants to bring about the use of grey water in homes. For example, water from laundry or showers could be used to flush toilets or help with irrigation. One challenge SAVE has faced has to do with making plastics recycling a permanent feature. This is difficult because of quality control; even those who recycle tend to mix up types of plastics or neglect to remove lids on bottles. "We have to be selective," states Christy Curd, SAVE employee.

4-H is also doing its part to increase recycling participation. One club, Canyon Creek Stock Club, chose for its project activity to start a recycling program. 4-H extension agent Quinn Holzer says that this idea came up last year, when they wanted to provide the buyers with water bottles and ended up with more than enough trash to convince them. "We thought, 'Let's take a look at what we can do to get things recycled'," Holzer says. This is even more applicable now, as certain recyclable materials, such as aluminum, actually have value. The issues with the idea are mostly logistical; containers need to be placed in the best locations, and the public needs to be educated.

"It's more of getting the word out," Holzer says. One of the best parts about the program is that volunteers, such as Lisa Grady, the club's leader, and 4-H kids are the ones putting the work in to make everything work.

Even the smaller venues, such as the Doo-Wop Seafood Stop, owned and run by Gene and Jeannie Clark of Laurel, do their part. This is the Clarks' first year at the fair, and they say that one thing they are very careful about is what they do with cardboard. They bring experience from Washington State, where cardboard recycling is mandatory, and there are even three slots in the trash bins for plastic, aluminum, and glass. As far as they can see, there are no serious obstacles facing recycling; as long as it is available most will comply.

This echoes what Kevin Tenney, concessions commercial coordinator and office manager for the fair, believes; that they "all do their best" to affect the world, even in small ways.