The Delaware Coastal Cleanup campaign, launched today by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, encourages Delawareans and visitors to pick up trash in their neighborhoods and nearby parks, on beaches and along waterways to help Keep DE Litter Free.

Throughout September, volunteers are asked to clean up debris, like cigarette butts, food wrappers, abandoned sports equipment, tires and more, that often end up in the ocean and waterways. They can document their findings and share photos in a new online volunteer survey, available now at de.gov/coastalcleanupsurvey.

“We’re lucky as Delawareans to live in such a beautiful state and we have an obligation to protect our unique natural resources for future generations,” said Governor John Carney. “Join us this month — and every month — in helping keep Delaware’s coastline free of litter. Thank you to all Delawareans and Delaware organizations that are doing their part to Keep DE Litter Free.”

Beginning today and all month long, find ideas about how to get involved in the 2020 Delaware Coastal Cleanup on Facebook and Twitter. Volunteers can post photos on facebook.com/DNREC for a chance to win a 2021 Delaware State Parks pass. Each photo post counts as an entry. Volunteers can post as often as they like throughout the month.

Volunteers can recruit family from their household or friends in their pandemic pod to join in a group cleanup, but large groups are discouraged.

“The hundreds of volunteers who usually participate in the Coastal Cleanup won’t be able to join us for a large in-person event, but they can still take action this month. Join our effort and help us reduce pollution that threatens aquatic life and human health,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin. “We can all help keep our beaches, waterways and wetlands clean and free of trash by cleaning up our own neighborhoods and nearby parks, beaches and other natural areas.”

Important reminders:

• Wear gloves when picking up trash.
• Wash hands thoroughly after cleanup activities.
• Stay at least six feet from people from other households.
• Wear face coverings when working in groups that include people outside your household, or when you are unable to social distance.
• Avoid larger numbers of people by choosing early morning or evening, weekdays and cloudy days for cleanups.
• Follow all local rules and regulations.

There are many ways to make a difference all year long:

• Pick up trash near your home — streets, roadways, natural areas and open spaces — to keep your neighborhood clean.
• Follow a carry-in/carry out plan and take all trash away with you after visiting outdoor public spaces, like Delaware State Parks, fishing and boating piers and ramps, wildlife areas, reserves, county or local parks.
• Pack a disposable bag and rubber gloves when you take a walk or hike, go hunting or fishing, etc., to collect and carry out trash you find along the way.
• Recycle what you can through in-home recycling or designated drop-off locations. Learn more at Delaware Recycles.

For more information, visit Delaware Coastal Cleanup or email DNREC_Coastal_Cleanup@delaware.gov.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, Joanna.wilson@delaware.gov, Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will host a virtual public workshop next month to discuss the State’s plastic bag ban and introduce draft At-Store Recycling Program Regulations. The informal workshop will offer the public an opportunity to better understand the changes and also provide feedback on the draft regulations which will be used to implement and support this program.

Facilitated by DNREC’s Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances’ Compliance and Permitting Section, the virtual workshop will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

The proposed regulations will allow the Department discuss the bag ban as well as improve the At-Store Recycling Program, discuss which stores will be impacted and what that impact will look like, and to ensure collection programs at stores for plastic carry out bags and plastic film are consistent with the law.

DNREC encourages all interested parties to attend, including residents, store owners and managers, waste service providers, retailers, recycling processors, plastic bag manufacturers, and environmental organizations.

The plastic bag ban and at-store recycling program video conferencing workshop can be accessed from the online DNREC calendar.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances ensures Delaware’s wastes are managed to protect human life, health, safety and the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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Both Must Be Preordered in Advance and Are Available Pickup Only

Delaware residents may preorder environmentally beneficial compost bins and rain barrels at discount prices during an online sale sponsored by DNREC. Made available by DNREC’s Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances, in conjunction with the Division of Watershed Stewardship, advance purchases must be made for both items via http://de.gov/recycling before the deadlines listed below:

• Lewes – Preorder deadline is Sept. 13 for pickup on Saturday, Sept. 19 Pickup location at the DNREC Lewes Field Facility, 901 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.).
• New Castle – Preorder deadline is Sept. 27 for pickup on Saturday, Oct. 3. Pickup location at the DNREC Office, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE. 19720 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.).. Pickup: rear door location.
• Dover – Preorder deadline is Oct. 4 for pickup on Saturday, Oct. 10. Pickup location at the DNREC Office, 155 Commerce Way, Suite B, Dover, DE. 19904 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.). Pickup: rear door location.

The ”FreeGarden Earth” compost bins, offered through DNREC for $50 each, are made from recycled materials, and require no assembly. Compost bins have features that enhance the decomposition process and help make composting more efficient. These compact units transform food scraps and yard waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that replaces traditional fertilizers to produce healthier plants and vegetables in home gardens.

The 55-gallon ”FreeGarden Rain” rain barrels made available by DNREC at $60 each, or about half the retail price, are attractive and easy to move, install and use. They come with an insect resistant stainless-steel screen, three additional spigot mounting locations, as well as a childproof lid and square shape ideal for flush-to-wall and corner installations. Rain barrels collect and store the water from roofs and downspouts for future uses such as watering lawns, gardens, and house plants; cleaning off gardening tools; and car washing. Rain barrels help to lower water bills, particularly in the summer months by collecting free water each year. Rain barrels play an important role in protecting water resources by collecting stormwater runoff from homes before it reaches local streams and rivers.

Compost bins and rain barrels must be picked up between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the chosen location, and only those items ordered will be available. Buyers should note that no additional bins, barrels, or accessories will be sold at the pickup locations.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances ensures Delaware’s wastes are managed to protect human life, health, safety and the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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DOVER – DNREC’s Recycling Program within the Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances is offering compost bins that can be pre-ordered online at a discount price – for pick-up only at a Delaware Solid Waste Authority recycling event Saturday, June 2, at Fort DuPont State Park Parade Grounds, 248 Kent Avenue, Delaware City, DE 19706. Pre-order deadline for the FreeGarden Earth compost bins is May 26. Orders must be placed online at www.enviroworld.us/Delaware, with major credit cards and PayPal accepted.

The compost bins cost $50, which is half the retail price. Bins must be picked up between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the DSWA Delaware City event – during which time DNREC’s Recycling Program will also be onsite helping to feature easy-to-use products that can make organic waste diversion easy in Delaware.

Compost bins can provide homeowners a big organic assist in caring for their lawns and gardens. Beneficial to the environment, compost bins help turn food scraps and yard waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that replaces traditional fertilizers to produce gardens with healthier plants and vegetables.

To learn more about composting in Delaware please visit: dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/waste-hazardous/recycling/composting/. For more information about DNREC’s Recycling Program within the Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances, please contact Don Long by email Donald.long@delaware.gov or by calling 302-739-9403 (ext. 4).

Vol. 48, No. 109

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DOVER – A partnership between the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and Delaware’s Department of Technology and Information (DTI) with the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) in the national State Electronics Challenge has saved the state more than $110,000 in energy costs for 2017. Participation in the State Electronics Challenge was open to all state agencies with IT services managed by DTI, including DNREC.

The annual electronics challenge encourages state, tribal, regional, and local governments to responsibly manage their offices more energy-efficiently by purchasing greener office equipment; by reducing the impacts of these products during use; and by managing obsolete electronics at the end-of-lifecycle in an environmentally safe way.

“Through DNREC’s partnership in the State Electronics Challenge Program we are supporting the state’s efforts at managing the lifecycle stewardship of electronic equipment,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “The program provides tools to track progress, measure results, and see environmental benefits. DNREC’s efforts also included sending most of our electronic equipment for reuse in Delaware schools, with the remainder going to a certified recycler.”

“It is a priority of Governor Carney’s administration to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Delaware government, and our participation in the State Electronics Challenge has been a great way for us to save the State money in energy costs,” said Delaware Chief Information Officer James Collins. “DTI supports DNREC’s, and all of our IT centralized agencies’ efforts to leverage our purchasing power and manage the IT environment in a way that aligns with our sustainability goals.”

The collective action of Delaware’s state agencies participating in the State Electronics Challenge Delaware yielded the following environmental benefits during 2017:

• Savings of over 1 million kWh of energy, equivalent to powering 83 homes/year;
• Reducing 163,800 metric tons of carbon equivalents, equivalent to removing 34,630 cars from the road/year;
• Reduced toxic materials, including lead and mercury, by 5 pounds; and
• Prevention and diversion of 24,840 pounds of municipal solid waste, equivalent to waste generated by seven households/year.

DNREC and DTI chose electronics that meet the state’s IT and sustainability goals for purchasing and performance, using criteria based on Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool-registered products as a required or preferred standard in bids, contracts, and/or leases for IT equipment in calendar year 2017.

Many state agencies practice responsible reuse of electronic devices and partner with the Delaware Center for Educational Technology’s Partners in Technology Program (Par-Tech) to distribute the devices to schools where they are refurbished and serve a second life. This program provides a cost-effective alternative to new equipment purchases for those schools that need additional computer systems.

Responsible reuse also reduces mining of raw materials and the carbon footprint of manufacturing. All electronic equipment that is not refurbished for schools is sent to a certified e-Stewards electronics recycler to ensure recycling best practices for toxic materials and high standards of environmental, health, and safety protections.

For more information, including the full report on the states’ actions and benefits in the State Electronics Challenge, please email Don Long of DNREC’s Recycling Program within the Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances, or call 302-739-9403.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 87

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