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SCMUA and Wallkill River Watershed Management Group Hosts Earth Day Event

On Friday 4/19, the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA) and the Wallkill River Watershed Management Group hosted its 17th annual Earth Day Celebration at the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority in Lafayette. The event welcomed 214 Sussex County students from Pope John Middle School (Sparta), McKeown Elementary School (Hampton), Florence M. Burd School (Andover), Lafayette Township School (Lafayette), and Hardyston Elementary School (Hardyston) to the SCMUA’s landfill and recycling center.

Students learned about a wide range of environmental topics through the 8 different hands-on stations included as part of the event:

1. Aquatic Insect Identification (AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors)
2. Composting to Reduce Food Waste (Foodshed Alliance’s LocalShare Program)
3. How Long for Items to Decompose (Clean Communities)
4. Landfill Construction (ARM Group)
5. What Not to Flush (SCMUA Wastewater Department)
6. Native Tree Planting (SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group)
7. Recycle More at the SCMUA (SCMUA Recycling Department)
8. Recycling Relay Race (Certified Recycling Professional)

The SCMUA also debuted its newest mascot, Sammy the Safety Seagull, at the event.

As part of the day, a food drive for Sparta Community Food Pantry was also conducted to help collect non-perishable food items for Sussex County families in need.