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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2013

Contact: Bob Considine (609) 984-1795
Lawrence Ragonese (609) 292-2994
Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES SECOND ANNUAL
“DASH FOR THE TRASH’’ CLEANUP OF DELAWARE RIVER AND BAY

Volunteers needed for “Dash for the Trash” and
First Annual “Raritan River Rubbish Roundup” From March 9 – 17  

(13/P18) TRENTON – The second annual Dash for the Trash, a large-scale, volunteer cleanup of sections of the Delaware River and Bay from Sussex to Cape May counties, will be held from March 9-17, with the cleanup effort expanding this year to portions of the Raritan River Basin, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.

The DEP’s New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program (NJWAP), in partnership with the NJ Clean Communities Council, is organizing cleanups in 18 different towns along the two waterways. With the addition of the first Raritan River Rubbish Roundup, there is a need for additional volunteers this year.

“Superstorm Sandy has added to the amount of trash and debris we are finding in and along our state’s waterways,” said Michele Siekerka, DEP Assistant Commissioner for Water Resource Management. “We really need the help of determined and passionate citizens to volunteer to pitch in and help in this important effort and help restore our watersheds to their natural beauty.”

Last year, more than 400 volunteers from scout troops, schools, businesses and environmental and nonprofit groups, as well as local residents, logged more than 1,500 hours cleaning up the Delaware River and Bay. The cleanups resulted in the collection of 536 bags of trash and recyclables, plus truckloads of large debris items gathered from the New Jersey side of the Delaware River Basin.

“With the help of volunteers throughout New Jersey, we hope to greatly exceed last year’s totals,” said Frank Elmuccio, the NJWAP’s team leader for the event. 

Delaware River & Bay Dash for the Trash cleanups are scheduled at Duck Island in Hamilton, Miry Run in Hamilton, Pompeston Creek in Cinnaminson, Bridgeton Bluffs on the Cohansey River in Bridgeton, Pyne Point Park in Camden, Paulins Kill Memory Park in Newton, as well as the Paulins Kill Sussex Branch Trail in Newton and Lafayette, Cape Island Creek in Cape May, Rancocas Creek in Delanco, Maurice River in Millville, and the Delaware River in Phillipsburg, Pennsville and Cinnaminson.

Raritan River Rubbish Roundup events are scheduled at Waackaak Creek in Keansburg, Mine Brook in Bernardsville, D&R Canal in New Brunswick, Johnson Park in New Brunswick and Black Brook Park in Kenilworth.

To register for a cleanup or see a detailed list of cleanup sites, times and contact information, please visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/wms/bear/blitz_2013.htm.

The 9-day cleanup will be held in conjunction with National AmeriCorps Week, which celebrates the volunteerism and service of AmeriCorps members who are playing a key role in organizing local cleanups. The New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program, which is under the umbrella of the AmeriCorps Program, is an environmental community service effort administered by the DEP to raise public awareness about water and watershed issues and to promote watershed stewardship through direct community involvement. 

To learn more about the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/wms/bear/americorps.htm.

MEDIA:  To arrange to meet up with one of the groups, please contact Katie Barnett at 609-707-4821

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Last Updated: March 5, 2013