Environmental Day Festival and Rockland Recycles Awards

On Sunday June 1 the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority held its fifth annual Environmental Day at the Recycling Center in Hillburn. Close to 40 organizations and businesses took part in table-top exhibits and demonstrations, all geared towards increasing awareness about green programs and services in and around Rockland County.

“This event serves as an education and outreach mechanism for the Authority,” said Anna Roppolo, executive director of the Authority. “In order for us to minimize the amount of waste that is transported to landfills each year, it’s important for our residents to know about the recycling, composting and reuse programs available to them in the county.”

This venue started as a way to recognize businesses, schools and other institutions for excellence in waste reduction and recycling through the Rockland Recycles Awards Program. “The awards program not only provides these entities with the recognition they deserve, they serve as models for success,” said Kerri Scales, education coordinator.

The Authority has presented over 25 awards since the inception of the program in 2005. This year’s recipients were St. Thomas Aquinas College, eWorks at ARC of Rockland and the Village of Nyack.

Tours of the agency’s Recycling and Environmental Education Center were provided to show residents how their paper, plastic, metal and glass containers are sorted and processed for recycling. Back yard composting and rain barrel building demonstrations were given by Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Kids enjoyed balloon artistry, face painting, the Bossy Frog Band, and the County’s Fire Prevention and Command Center Vehicles. New to the event this year was the Flight of the Raptor Show.

For more information about these programs or the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority visit www.rocklandrecycles.com or call 753-2200.