2012 Earth Day Festival on April 14 at Riverfront Park

Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department will host the 2012 Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 14, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. The new location for this year’s festival is Riverfront Park on the former Naval Base in North Charleston.

The County’s 13th Annual Earth Day Festival is a celebration of Charleston County’s environmental community. The festival provides hands-on educational opportunities highlighting Charleston County’s environmental programs and community in an entertaining atmosphere.

“Our Annual Earth Day Festival provides an ideal opportunity for Lowcountry residents to learn how they can make a difference in our community at home, work and play,” said Carolyn Carusos, Charleston County’s Environmental Management Recycling Programs Manager. “The new location for this year’s festival at Riverfront Park offers a beautiful waterfront setting to enjoy all the diverse, fun, family-oriented activities.”

Charleston County’s Earth Day Festival has attracted as many as 8,000 people to the free event each year. All participants are asked to commit to reducing waste at the event. Resource Recycling Centers will be strategically located throughout the park to collect recyclable materials and organic waste generated by attendees.

Charleston County’s Earth Day Art Contest was held again this year. Students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade were asked to submit drawings on Earth Day subjects with the theme of “Put Your Green Foot Forward.” The winning artwork will be featured at the event and will be printed on the back of the volunteers’ T-shirts.

Schedule of Events:

Main Stage

• 11:30 a.m.: Event kickoff with Bishop England’s Marching Band
• 12 p.m.: Opening remarks by Charleston County Council Representatives in attendance / Awards & recognition of Earth Day art contest winners and recognition of festival volunteers
• 12:30 p.m.: “We All Live Downstream” by speaker Kim Counts with the Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium
• 1 p.m.: Live performance by Shrimp City Slim, piano/vocals, specializing in Lowcountry blues & original songs
• 2 p.m.: Live performance by The 3 Dudes, Charleston’s youngest & most rocking rock band
• 3 p.m.: Live performance by Yeehaw Junction, Charleston's premier bluegrass band specializing in playing traditional bluegrass music
• 4 p.m.: Live performance by Adande African Drum & Dance Company, exploring the elements of history and entertainment combined in a single musical experience

Educational Stage

• 12:30 p.m.: Nature walk with Christine Poole / Music provided by singer, songwriter Estee Gabay
• 1 p.m.: Storytelling by Hawk Hurst
• 1:30 p.m.: Mad Science demonstration
• 2 p.m.: Birds of Prey demonstration by Stephen Schabel with The Avian Conservation Center
• 2:30 p.m.: Storytelling by Hawk Hurst
• 3 p.m.: Nature walk with Christine Poole/Reading of “The Lorax” by Bronwyn Santos with Charleston County Environmental Management
• 3:30 p.m.: Judo demonstration by Tom Rieff with Charleston Martial Arts

Other Highlights of the 2012 Earth Day Festival:

Over 60 environmental activities and educational displays on alternative energy, conservation, local and organic agriculture, animals and habitat preservation, litter, water and air quality, seedlings, recycling and composting

• Hands-on fun with Mad Science play stations
• Water buffalo by Charleston Water Systems
• Pet Helpers will be on site providing information on animal rescue and adoptable animals
• Local food vendors and food trucks offering classic festival fare plus some vegetarian options
• Returning Trash-to-Treasure guest, The Yo Art Project, to assist with craft-making using recycled materials

Charleston County Environmental Management staff will:

• Collect electronic waste, such as old TVs and computers for recycling. Bring your unwanted electronic items with you to avoid these items being disposed of in the landfill.
• Provide reusable bag giveaways for first 100 attendees
• Feature demonstrations showing the new single stream recycling truck
• Host a recycling tent with information, giveaways and prizes
• Have recycling bins for available for residents to take home
• Provide home compost information, backyard composting demonstrations and free compost samples

Plus a whole day of fun activities, prize drawings, contests and interactive live performances

Charleston County Government’s Environmental Management Department thanks their contributors:
City of North Charleston
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control

For more information on recycling or the Earth Day Festival, visit recycle.charlestoncounty.org or call (843) 720-7111.

Charleston County sponsoring creative recycling art contest

Flickr user kfisto

Entry deadline is Friday, Nov. 4- prizes awarded to winners in all categories

Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department is seeking participants for the 2011 Creative Recycling Art Contest. The art contest is being held to celebrate America Recycles Day 2011 in Charleston County.

America Recycles Day is recognized annually on November 15 to celebrate the successes of recycling while providing an educational platform to raise awareness about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling – every day throughout the year. America Recycles Day is a national initiative of nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB).

“Reusing materials and using them as supplies to make artwork helps to close the recycling loop – reduce, reuse, recycle and buy recycled. The purpose of this contest is to encourage people to think creatively about our recyclables,” said Bronwyn Santos, Recycling Educator for Charleston County Environmental Management.

This year marks the 14th anniversary of the County’s Creative Recycling Art Contest. An awards reception will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15, at the Charleston County Main Library (68 Calhoun Street, Charleston).

There are two categories to enter:

• Students, grades 7-12
• Adults (18 years and older)

Students in grades 7-12 and adults may enter artwork that is created with a minimum of 70 percent recycled materials. First place winners in each category will receive a $300 gift card.

The deadline to submit artwork is 5 p.m. on Friday, November 4.

Detailed Criteria for Grades 7-12 and Adults (18 years and older) Categories:

• At least 70 percent of the materials used in the creation of your entry must be material diverted from disposal and reused. Art supplies such as glue, paint, markers, nails and staples are allowed.
• Art entries can be in any medium and take any visual form, including but not limited to sculpture, weaving, fashion, mosaics, ceramics, painting, etc.
• The size of art entries must not exceed 24 inches in height x 24 inches in width x 24 inches in diameter.
• Only one entry per person.
• All art entries must be labeled so that each entry can be easily identified. Labels must be securely attached with name, address, phone number, school name, grade, art teacher, name of entry and medium description.

Prizes:

• First place student, grades 7-12: $300 gift card.
• First place in the adult (18 years and older) category: $300 gift card.
• Runner-up and Honorable Mention awards will be named in each category.

This art contest supports Charleston County’s recycling partnership with the Charleston County School District. Recently announced, this partnership will foster environmental sustainability within the school system and across the community. In addition to collecting recyclable materials, Charleston County will be conducting waste assessments and providing a comprehensive education and outreach program for teachers and students through a school recycling representative. These actions in conjunction with CCSD Sustainable Schools Initiative will ultimately lead to a reduction in the amount of garbage generated and support County Council’s goal of a 40% recycling rate.

For more information on the Charleston County Creative Recycling Art Contest or to submit your contest entry, contact Bronwyn Santos, Charleston County Recycling,13 Romney Street, Charleston, SC 29403 or call (843) 720-7112

For more information on America Recycles Day, visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

For more information on Charleston County Government, visit recycle.charlestoncounty.org.

Charleston County announces recycling pilot program in North Charleston

Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department and the City of North Charleston held a joint press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at the East Montague Business District in North Charleston.

The event marks the start of Charleston County’s Commercial Recycling Pilot Program, which is designed to engage business participation and gather data on commercial recycling within strategic areas of the County. The program is expected to run for several months.

“Although the pilot program is currently free of charge to participating businesses, an analysis of the data will provide a framework for developing a comprehensive commercial recycling program in the future, as well as determine any potential collection fees,” said Nancy Carter, Charleston County Environmental Management Department’s Community Representative.

Materials that will be recycled for the pilot program are cardboard, mixed paper and commingled products (plastics #1-7, glass containers and aluminum and steel cans). All materials will be processed at the County’s recycling center located at 13 Romney Street in downtown Charleston.

The East Montague Business District represents a variety of businesses that include restaurants and bars, professional offices, financial institutions and retailers.

“Because of its variety and high level of interest in recycling, it was identified as a model area to initiate the Commercial Recycling Pilot Program,” said Charleston County Council Chairman Teddie E. Pryor, Sr.

For more information on the Commercial Recycling Pilot Program, contact the Charleston County Environmental Management Department at (843) 720-7111 or visit http://www.charlestoncounty.org.