CURBSIDE RECYCLING A SUCCESS AT 2006 DELAWARE STATE FAIR

HARRINGTON, DE - August 17, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

During the ten days of the annual Delaware State Fair, fairgoers were sure to develop a thirst after playing in the hot sun, and there were so many choices on how to quench their thirst…a bottle of ice-cold Aquafina, a refreshing bottle of Pepsi, a cold can of Dr. Pepper, a cup of fresh-squeezed lemonade, an old-fashioned root beer, and the list goes on. Regardless of their choice of beverage, however, they had an even more important decision to make once they finished their drink…how to dispose of their container. In the past, there were only two choices… to refill or to landfill, but this year there was a third option…to recycle.

This year, Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) strategically placed plastic and aluminum recycling bins around the fairground. Each night, with assistance from a group of Americorps volunteers, all of the recyclable waste from the containers was collected and shipped to a Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) recycling center. Along with the aluminum and plastic, DSWA and DNREC collected corrugated cardboard waste from the Fair and its concessionaires, attractions, and sponsors.

According to Jim Short of DNREC, approximately 252 pounds of plastic, 135 pounds of aluminum, and 7,080 pounds of cardboard were collected during the ten-day event for a total of 7,467 pounds of combined recyclable collection. Short added, “We’re pleased with the totals received. Moreover, the contamination level was less than 8%. This means that not a lot of trash was combined in with the recyclable materials.”

Thomas Houska, Chief of Administrative Services of DSWA, added, “It’s obvious that consumers—fairgoers and those who were working at the Fair—were making a conscious decision to recycle. With legislation looming with regard to mandatory recycling, DSWA is working to provide easy options, such as our curbside recycling programs, to make it easier for consumers to recycle.” Houska noted that DSWA maintained a booth space at the Fair to be able to discuss its curbside recycling programs in Kent and Sussex counties. “We’re sure being able to discuss how the program works with nearly 300,000 people at the Delaware State Fair made an impact,” said Houska.

The Fair’s public relations and marketing director, Tricia Southard, added, “We’re delighted to have taken the first step in a multi-step recycling program on the fairgrounds. Watching the Americorps volunteers work late into the night to collect the recycling materials really touched me—it was like having our own curbside program. With agriculture being the foundation on which the Fair was built, knowing that those who visited and worked the Fair wanted to help reduce waste means we all worked together to protect our environment.”

For more information or to learn how you can sign-up for curbside recycling at your residence, please visit www.dswa.com. Additional information on recycling and related issues may be obtained by visiting www.dnrec.state.de.us or contacting the Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Branch at (302) 739-9403.###