Cumberland County Improvement Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 7, 2008

IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY SPONSORS 2008 ENVIRO FAIR

MILLVILLE, NJ: The Cumberland County Improvement Authority welcomed nearly 300 fourth grade students and teachers to the 14th Annual Cumberland County Enviro Fair. Twelve area schools participated in this year’s Enviro Fair, which was held at the WheatonArts and Cultural Center Assemblyman Matthew W. Milam served as the Master of Ceremonies.

“The Enviro Fair is just one of the Improvement Authority’s annual outreach programs. It is designed to educate students about the environment we live in and the Improvement Authority’s wide array of solid waste and recycling programs,” said Steven R. Wymbs, Improvement Authority Executive Director. “By the time they leave the Fair, students have a much stronger grasp of how their everyday actions impact the environment around them.”

The Fair explores their impact on the environment by rotating the students through a series of recycling themed demonstrations and exhibits. They also have the opportunity to meet with recycling industry vendors, enjoy a magic show with an environmental twist, and listen to the Red Bucket Jammers.

“Each year I am impressed by the eagerness of the students to attend the Enviro Fair,” noted Freeholder Bruce Peterson, Co-Liaison to the Improvement Authority. “The hands-on nature of the Enviro Fair gives students something tangible to take away. Students leave with a lasting impression of how connected to the environment they are, something a lecture alone could never accomplish.”

The Fair promotes awareness about recycling and recycled products by focusing on the importance of recycling, proper solid waste management practices, source reduction, water quality, buying recycled, non-point source pollution, and the eco-system of Cumberland County.

Students and teachers were encouraged to engage in environmental awareness practices long before the event is held. In the weeks leading up to the Enviro Fair, students worked individually and in teams to create sculptures and garments out of recyclable or recycled products for the Fair’s fashion show and sculpture contests.

“The creativity the students bring each year to the sculpture contest and fashion show is always a surprise and delight for me. When you think of the origin of the materials used to create the entries, it is truly astounding,” said Improvement Authority Recycling Coordinator Dennis DeMatte, Jr.

Waste Management, Cumberland Recycling, Giordano’s Recycling, and private citizens contributed a variety of gifts and prizes for the winners of the sculpture contest and special drawing. The winner of the fashion show was awarded the Grand Prize of up to $4,000 worth of playground equipment for their school made from recycled material. This award was courtesy of the Cumberland County Improvement Authority.

Virgina E. Curliss, Improvement Authority Recycling Committee Member, noted the significance of programs like the Enviro Fair in bringing awareness to the importance of recycling. “We strive to continue developing programs which make recycling accessible to the residents and businesses of Cumberland County,” Curliss said. “For example, the Improvement Authority introduced a new Municipal Recycling Collection Program in 2007 which significantly increased the amount of paper recycled, and established new permanent universal waste collection sites in 2008. The Improvement Authority also sponsors many other events throughout the year to include: the Adopt-A-Road Program, Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Days, Public Lands Cleanup, and the Eco-Fair.”

The Improvement Authority would like to thank all of the municipal organizations, businesses, and individuals who have contributed to making this event successful, including: the New Jersey Department of Agriculture; the New Jersey Nursery and Landscaping Association; the Landis Sewerage Authority; the New Jersey Audubon Nature Center of Cape May; Giordano’s Recycling; Waste Management; Haskins Shellfish Research Laboratory; the Bayshore Discovery Project; the Nature Conservancy; the New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program; the Cumberland County Health Department; the cities of Bridgeton, Millville, and Vineland; the townships of Deerfield, Hopewell, Downe, and Upper Deerfield; the Rosenhayn and Carmel Fire Companies; the Cohanzick Zoo; the Vineland High School S.H.A.P.E. Club; Home Depot; and the Cumberland Empowerment Zone.

“The Improvement Authority appreciates the hard work, cooperation, and contributions of the many volunteers, local businesses, organizations and municipalities involved. I would personally like to thank the Improvement Authority Board, administration, and staff who contributed in making this year’s event such a success. We were able to reach hundreds of students today at the Enviro Fair who will go on to spread their new knowledge of recycling throughout Cumberland County,” concluded DeMatte.

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For more information about this press release, please contact Dennis DeMatte, Jr. at 856-825-3700.