Cumberland County Improvement Authority


	Steven R. Wymbs Executive Director Board Members Albert B. Kelly Chairman Sumner N. Lippincott Vice Chairman Virginia E. Curliss, Treasurer Clair H. Miller Assistant Treasurer Joseph W. Veight III Secretary Todd W. Heck, Esq. Solicitor Bruce T. Peterson Co Freeholder Liaison Louis N. Magazzu Co Freeholder Liaison

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MARCH 27, 2007

CUMBERLAND COUNTY TRASH HUNT BRINGS OUT OVER 200 VOLUNTEERS

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ: Over 200 volunteers from throughout Cumberland County spent part of their Saturday afternoon patrolling our woodlands in a search of trash as part of the Cumberland County Clean Communities 16th Annual Public Lands Clean-up. The long-running event is sponsored by the Cumberland County Improvement Authority.

“ The Trash Hunt has become a wonderful opportunity for the community to show their support for protecting and preserving our environment,” said Steven R. Wymbs, Improvement Authority Executive Director. “Over the last 16 years, thousands of volunteers have become involved by taking time out of their busy weekends to assist in cleaning up areas of Cumberland County. With their enthusiastic support again this year, we were able to remove several tons of trash, including many tires from Cumberland County’s woodland areas.”

Volunteer groups cleaned up areas throughout the County including the Union Lake Fish and Wildlife Management Area, the Edward G. Bevan Fish and Wildlife Management Area, the Peaslee Fish and Wildlife Management Area, the Mauricetown Preserve, and the Upper Deerfield Township Open Space Area off of Route 77.

“ It is important to remember this effort is more than just a clean-up program, it is an educational program as well,” said Virginia Curliss, Improvement Authority Board Recycling Committee Chairperson. “It is our belief that Cumberland County residents will take more pride in their communities if they learn more about litter problems and how to solve them. We must remember that litter comes from all of us; pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household trash containers, loading docks, construction sites, recreational outings, and untarped vehicles. This, along with many other Improvement Authority sponsored programs, helps to educate our citizens about the problems litter causes and what we all can do to eliminate it.”

“ I would like to recognize Waste Management, C and H Disposal, Giordano’s Recycling, Cifaloglio, Inc. and the City of Millville for their help in making the Trash Hunt a success. Each pre-positioned roll-off containers and trash compactors in strategic locations throughout the County for volunteers to dispose of the trash and tires they collected,” said Dennis DeMatte, Jr., Cumberland County Recycling Coordinator. “Also, I would like to acknowledge Bob Russell, Jeff Hammerstead, the Federation of Sportsmen, and Lee Widjeskog of the New Jersey Department of Fish and Game for their invaluable help in coordinating this year’s Trash Hunt.”

“ In addition, Municipal Clean Communities Coordinators, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Vineland were also involved in this year’s clean-up effort,” DeMatte continued. “We appreciate all of the help they provided, not only for this event, but for their continued support over the years. Their efforts, and the efforts of so many others, are definitely making a positive impact on the appearance and integrity of Cumberland County’s natural environment.”

“ On behalf of the entire Board of Chosen Freeholders, I would like to thank all of the volunteers for the time they give to our environment each and every year at events like this,” said Freeholder Bruce T. Peterson, Deputy Director and Improvement Authority Co-Liaison. “Cumberland County has a variety of outdoor locations which provide recreational opportunities to residents and visitors to our area. Through the efforts of the Improvement Authority and many citizen volunteers, we are making a visible difference in the appearance and environmental integrity of our County waterways and protected woodlands.”

Over the last 16 years, the Public Lands Clean-up Program has removed nearly 1.5 million pounds of trash and almost 13,000 tires from our protected woodlands, waterways, and other important areas of the County. For more information on this and other Clean Communities and Recycling Programs in Cumberland County, including our Waterways Cleanup on September 29, 2007, please contact the Improvement Authority at 825-3700 or visit our Web site at www.ccia-net.com.

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For more information about this press release, please contact Dennis DeMatte, Jr. at 825-3700.