CCOBH

NEW CASTLE COUNTY (March 28, 2012) – DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara encourages volunteers to join the Christina River Watershed Cleanup along the river and several of its tributaries on Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 12 sites throughout northern New Castle County. Due to other activities that day, two sites will begin the cleanup early – the City of Newark at 7:30 a.m. and the Naamans Creek site at 8 a.m. The Naamans Creek meeting location site is located at the east end of the F&N Shopping Center behind Sweeney’s Bakery. The Cleanup will also be included with Volunteer Delaware’s National Volunteer Week promotion.

“Helping to beautify our waterways is the perfect way to spend a few hours on a Saturday morning,” said Secretary O’Mara. “Clearing debris from the Christina watershed not only improves the landscape for residents and visitors to enjoy, it improves the health and water quality of the river and its tributaries, the primary sources of public water supply for New Castle County.”

The annual cleanup, now in its 21st year, will be held rain or shine. Since the cleanup began in 1992, more than 350 tons of tires, appliances, household items, and plastic and styrofoam have been cleared from the Christina River, White Clay Creek and other tributaries.

DNREC has been a sponsor and an integral part of the Christina River Watershed Cleanup since its inception, providing funding and other support. Specifically, DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife provides staff, boats, and specialized equipment to move volunteers and remove trash from remote locations. The cleanup of the river within the city of Wilmington benefits DNREC’s ongoing marsh restoration work at the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge.

For a list of cleanup sites with directions and to register, visit www.ChristinaRiverCleanup.org or call 302-838-1897. Volunteers are encouraged to register for one of the 12 sites before Monday, April 16, so adequate supplies can be provided to each site captain. Due to insurance requirements, volunteers under the age of 16 must have adult supervision.

Participants are encouraged to wear brightly-colored clothing, long sleeves and pants, boots or water-resistant shoes, hats and heavy-duty gloves and to use insect repellent and sunscreen. Waders or hip boots are also helpful for the City of Wilmington and Churchman’s Marsh – Christiana and Newport sites. Additional jon-boat-type work boats are still needed for Wilmington’s Riverfront and the Churchman’s Marsh – Newport area. All participants must wear a life jacket while on board any boat.

All volunteers will receive a 2012 Christina River Watershed Cleanup t-shirt designed by Michael Cronin, a high school senior who attends Caravel Academy in Bear.

More than 50 organizations and businesses sponsor the cleanup each year. Primary sponsors besides DNREC include: Christina Conservancy, Inc.; Partnership for the Delaware Estuary; Artesian Water Company; United Water Delaware; Noramco, Inc.; GE Ceramic Composite Products and Dow Chemical.

For more information on DNREC’s programs, visit our website, DNREC

The Annual Christina River Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 21. Along Naamans Creek we will be working from 8:00 to noon. As usual we will meet behind Sweeney’s in the F&N Shopping Center and fan out from there. The businesses around Naamans and Foulk supply lunch for volunteers. We can supply vouchers for service hours for students.

The date is always selected from tide data to facilitate cleanup in the marshes and wetlands along the Christina River. Last year we collected over 2 tons of trash along the Naamans and from DelDOT stormwater basins and about 20 tons in the entire cleanup. By the looks of the area we clean even more should be collected this year.

Hope you can join us.

Marianne Cinaglia
Naamans Creek Watershed Association

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) and Dart Container Corporation (Dart) are pleased to provide two drop off location for the recycling of polystyrene foam (foam #6- commonly referred as STYROFOAM). Drop-off Containers can be found at the following DSWA facilities:

Delaware Recycling Center, 1101 Lambsons Lane, New Castle. Material is accepted Monday-Friday 7am-3pm.

Milford Transfer Station, 1170 S. Dupont Boulevard, Milford. Starting February 1, material will be accepted Monday-Saturday 7am-3pm.

For more information about this program go to the DWSA website.

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) is holding Electronic Goods Collection and Document Shredding Events. The following events have already been scheduled; continue to check back for the addition of more events.

Saturday, February 25, 2012- Dickinson High School, 1801 Milltown Road, Wilmington, DE

Saturday, March 24, 2012- Delaware State Fairgrounds, 18500 South Dupont Highway, Harrington, DE

Saturday, April 28, 2012- Barley Mill Plaza, Centre Road & Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE

For more information, check out DSWA.

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) is pleased to announce that it will expand its plastic recycling efforts.

Starting immediately Delaware Residents can begin recycling #1, #2, #4, #5 and #7 plastics. These numbers, known as the resin identification code, are located on the inside of an arrow-shaped triangle found at the bottom of each container.

Some examples of new items that can be placed in Recycling Drop-Off Centers and curbside recycling programs include; ketchup bottles, yogurt cups, fruit and vegetable containers, margarine tubs and lids, cream cheese tubs and lids, lunchbox-size pudding and gelatin cups, sour cream tubs. Growth in the recycling market has lead to the ability to accept these new items into Delaware’s recycling stream.

DSWA has also partnered with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to create a “How to Recycle Guide” for Delaware residents. With the changes in recycling that have occurred over the past year, DSWA and DNREC felt that a booklet explaining where and how various materials could be recycled or properly disposed of in Delaware was necessary.

The booklet will be provided in digital form here “How To Recycle” at dswa.com or by requesting a hard copy by calling DSWA’s Citizens’ Response line at 1-800-404-7080. For more information on DSWA, its facilities or programs please call the Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080 or visit www.dswa.com