Cumberland County Improvement Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

13TH ANNUAL CUMBERLAND COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR
BUILDS ON PREVIOUS SUCCESS

Deerfield Township, NJ: Nearly 500 fourth grade students and faculty from 16 Cumberland County schools were brought together to learn the benefits of recycling at the 13th Annual Cumberland County Environmental Fair. The Fair is an opportunity for the students to learn about the importance of protecting the environment while having a great time at the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex. The Environmental Fair is sponsored by the Cumberland County Improvement Authority.

“The Environmental Fair delivers a strong message about recycling and caring about our environment,” said Dennis DeMatte, Jr., Cumberland County Recycling Coordinator. “What makes the Fair unique is our ability to send the message to young students in a fun and entertaining manner.”

Schools participating in the 2006 Environmental Fair included:

Max Leuchter Elizabeth Moore School
Fairfield Primary St. Francis of Assisi
Stow Creek Township R.D. Wood School
St. Mary’s Regional St. Mary Magdalen
Mount Pleasant Cunningham School
Woodland Country Day School Deerfield Township
Ellison School Morris Goodwin School
Immaculate Conception Dane Barse

As the fourth grade students arrived at the Complex, they were given an overview of the day’s activities and divided into groups. The groups then rotated through various demonstrations, exhibits, a magic show with an environmental theme, and meetings with recycling industry vendors. Afterwards, the groups re-assembled for lunch and were treated to entertainment by the Red Bucket Jammers.

Participating industry vendors included:

NJ Department of Agriculture Bayshore Discovery Project
NJ Nursery and Landscape Association Cohanzick Zoo
Landis Sewerage Authority Marcal Paper
NJ Audubon Nature Center of Cape May Giordano’s Recycling
NJ Watershed Ambassador’s Program The Nature Conservancy
Waste Management Home Depot
Cumberland County Health Department

To further promote awareness about recycling and recycled products, the schools participated in a sculpture contest and fashion show using recycled or recyclable materials.

“The fashion show and sculpture contest allow the students to experience individual recognition along with total class participation,” DeMatte said. “The sculpture contest involves individual creativity, while the fashion show takes teamwork. Prizes for the sculpture contest were awarded to the individual student. The fashion show grand prize, playground equipment made from recycled material valued at $4,000, went to the winning school.”

“Normally, the children only see material put in a recycling bin or trash can. However, at the Environmental Fair they witness first hand the volume of material that the Solid Waste Complex handles on a daily basis and they also learn about the recycling process,” said Virginia Curliss, Improvement Authority Board Recycling Committee Chairperson. “Stressing the importance of recycling should start at a young age, and we are proud that over 6,500 students have participated in this free program since it was initiated. Each generation needs to learn about the environment they live in and their responsibility to help preserve it for the next generation.”

“With the support of the Improvement Authority Board, the Staff works extremely hard in order to make the Environmental Fair a fulfilling experience for the students,” said Steven R. Wymbs, Improvement Authority Executive Director. “Events like the Environmental Fair are important because they help the students realize that the future is in their hands. I want to thank all of the businesses, volunteers, and school faculty who understand the importance of recycling and who help make the Environmental Fair, and many other Improvement Authority sponsored programs, a success.”

For more information on the Environmental Fair or other recycling programs in Cumberland County, please call the Improvement Authority at 856-825-3700 or visit our Web site at www.ccia-net.com.

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For more information, please contact Dennis DeMatte, Jr. at 856-825-3700.