In Valparaiso, Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County will hold their annual Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration on April 22, 2023 9am-1pm CT at the Porter County Expo Center. The event will include an array of vendors, live music, wildlife shows, recycling performances, interactive children’s games, guest speakers, giveaways, document shredding, birdhouse building, a reuse fair, and more. Registration is still open for Earth Day vendors at PorterCountyRecycling.org/Earth-day/ . The theme for this year is “Invest in our planet.” Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction encourages participants to incorporate this theme into their booth’s display. You can hear more about the event at Region Newsmakers under News Audio on Demand here at our website.
The Reuse Fair, sponsored by the District, will take place at the 2023 Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration on April 22. Promote “reuse” and keep items out of the landfill by donating to organizations in need. The Reuse Fair connects participating non-profit organizations and schools that request supplies with community members who have items they no longer use. Benefiting organizations include: First Christian Church, Last Chance Rescue, Lakeshore Paws, Working Bikes, Discovery Charter School, Kouts Elementary School, Washington Park Zoo, Entrepreneur Class from Homegrown Hearts in Kouts, and Uniquely Nico Inc.
Donations will be divided amongst organizations based on wish lists. 2023 wish lists include the following items:
· Gently used bras
· Golf balls
· Towels
· Blankets
· Comforters
· Old dog harnesses (especially medium and large)
· Box fans (plastic, industrial, etc.)
· Toddler gate playpens
· Leashes
· Outdoor plastic kiddie pools
· Sprinklers
· Gently used dog beds
· Adult bikes in repairable condition
· Gently used kids bikes
· Bike tools, parts and accessories
· Broken down cereal boxes/ small cardboard sheets
· Art supplies (markers, sharpies, glue, colored pencils, etc.)
· Paper (cardstock, scrapbook paper, colored printer paper)
· Toilet paper/ paper towel rolls
· Plastic spoons
· Cotton balls/pompoms
· Legos/blocks and building items
· Scissors
· Styrofoam egg cartons
· Plastic storage containers with lids (can be cottage cheese etc.)
· Cardboard
· #6 plastic cups
· Plates & to-go containers
· Pet Bowls – various sizes
· Pet kennels/crates/cages
· Plastic/silk plants
· Shredded paper (no staples)
· Art supplies: canvas, paint
· Garden tools
· Chain
· Pet toys
· Rope
· Bird feeders
· Buttons
· Fabric scraps
· Yarn
· Beads
· Zippers
· Party bags
· Broken crayons
· Wrapping paper
· Scratched records
· Any condition shoes
*Donations will only be collected at the Porter County Expo Center, April 22, 2023, 9am-noon. Donations must be clean and in good condition. Volunteers have the right to refuse any item before drop off.
“We are thrilled to be fully back for an Earth Day Celebration that also includes the Reuse Fair. We have the entire Expo Center booked with learning opportunities for everyone. Due to the confusion surrounding current recycling guidelines, we will have a Recycling 101 presentation open to everyone,” says Executive Director Keri Marrs Barron.
For any questions regarding the Earth Day Celebration or Reuse Fair, contact Gabrielle Gresham at 219-465-3819.