DNREC to Have One Ton of Plastic Bags Made into Benches

In honor of Earth Month, Gov. John Carney joined Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn Garvin on April 15 to tour the facility where Delaware State Parks will have 15 benches made from excess plastic bags.

In 2020, the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation converted its plastic carry-in carry-out bags at Delaware State Parks to corn and paper products. Left with an excess of plastic bags, the Division worked with Eco Plastic Products of Delaware, a non-profit organization, to have the plastic bags turned into benches for Delaware State Parks.

Each bench will be made of 127 pounds of plastic bags – approximately 30,000 bags. The excess plastic bags weighed about 2,000 pounds, the equivalent of about 450,000 plastic bags and enough to produce 15 benches for the parks. The benches will be placed throughout Delaware State Parks with informational plaques about the benches and Division’s Carry-in, Carry-Out Trash-Free Parks Program.

Carry-In, Carry-Out, which was implemented in Delaware State Parks in 1994, asks visitors to take their trash with them when they leave, reducing the strain on limited resources, and increasing the beauty of the parks. The corn and paper bags now used in state parks are available to help visitors participate in the program. This program promotes recycling and has saved Delaware State Parks millions of dollars. It also helps keep Delaware State Parks cleaner for all visitors.

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 DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Shauna McVey, shauna.mcvey@delaware.gov or Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov.

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EPA Welcomes Delaware Health and Social Services to Responsible Appliance Disposal Team

Nationwide effort to protect ozone layer, help fight climate change

(NEW CASTLE, Del.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today welcomed the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) as the first state partner in the EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program, a nationwide effort to protect the ozone layer and reduce greenhouse gases by properly disposing old refrigerators, freezers and other appliances.

“By joining EPA’s RAD program, DHSS becomes an environmentally responsible partner in helping to protect the ozone layer and combat climate change,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “Everybody wins when we responsibly dispose of appliances with refrigerants because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and makes a positive impact on the air we breathe.”

By becoming a partner, DHSS shows they are committed to making a positive impact on the environment by agreeing to recover ozone-depleting chemicals from old refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and other appliances using best practices that ensure refrigerants and other parts are either reclaimed, recycled or disposed of properly.

“Being good stewards for the people of Delaware extends beyond effective and efficient use of taxpayer funds,” said DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf. “It also means that we are responsible for the buildings and the grounds from which we serve the public. By recycling old air-conditioning units, refrigerators and freezers from our buildings, and recovering the refrigerant and foam from those appliances, DHSS is demonstrating that we can be good environmental stewards, too. We are proud to be the first state partner in the EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal Program.”

DHSS operates social services, senior living and health facilities in 156 buildings throughout Delaware where there is a consistent turnover of appliances. In 2014 alone, DHSS recycled 8,605 pounds of heating, ventilation and air conditioning appliances, and DHSS estimates that the department will divert more than six tons of waste from landfills by 2016.

“For a small state like Delaware, recycling is particularly important because of the limited space our state has for landfills,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus. “Today, we see that our resources – financial and natural – have been stretched, and stretched in some instances to their limits. We need solutions to managing our resources that are win-wins for our economy and our environment. This recycling program is one of these win-win solutions.”

RAD partners include retailers, municipalities, utilities, manufacturers and universities. During 2013, RAD partners achieved emissions reductions that are equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from the electricity use of more than 309,000 homes. Of this, 64 percent can be attributed to reclaiming or destroying refrigerants, 30 percent to reclaiming or destroying foam-blowing agents, and 6 percent to recycling durable materials.

RAD partners work with recyclers to ensure the proper recovery of both refrigerant and foam from end-of-life appliances. They also save landfill space and reduce energy consumption by ensuring the recycling of durable materials, and keep communities clean by preventing appliance dumping and the release of hazardous and toxic materials.

In 2012, RAD partners processed more than 880,000 refrigerators and other appliances, which has successfully reduced emissions of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases. Partners have also reduced energy consumption, increased the recycling of durable goods, and ensured the proper handling of hazardous substances.

More information on EPA’s RAD Program: www.epa.gov/ozone/partnerships/rad/ .

To download photos from today’s event: https://www.flickr.com/photos/deldhss/sets/72157651681571819/

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION III – OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029
Phone – 215/814-5100 Fax – 215/814-5102

EPA Environmental News

Contact: Roy Seneca seneca.roy@epa.gov 215-814-5567


Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: Earth Day-related press briefing in which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services for becoming the first state partner nationally in its Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program. The disposal program protects the ozone layer and reduces greenhouse gases by properly disposing of old air-conditioning units, refrigerators, freezers and other appliances, and by recovering refrigerant and foam from those appliances. RAD’s other partners include retailers, municipalities, utilities, manufacturers and universities.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 21

WHERE: Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
Herman Holloway Campus
1901 N. DuPont Highway (U.S. 13)
New Castle, DE
(Maintenance Garage – behind Main Administration Building)

SPEAKERS: EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin
DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf
Brian Conners, President and Chief Operation Officer, ARCA Advanced Processing, Philadelphia

DETAILS: DHSS operates 156 buildings across the state, including five health-related facilities, many with a consistent turnover of appliances. In 2014, DHSS recycled 8,605 pounds of old air-conditioning units, refrigerators, freezers and other appliances. The goal for 2015 is to recycle and properly dispose of more than 6 tons of appliances.

NOTE: Pallets of old appliances, which are stored in the garage, will be the backdrop. There will be an opportunity for one-on-one interviews with the speakers after the program.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

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Rita Landgraf, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498
Email: jill.fredel@delaware.gov

Delaware Health and Social ServicesDivision of Public Health