The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County invites residents from Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties and beyond to become inspired, educated and entertained at the eighth annual Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd., Valparaiso.
Admission and parking for the event are free. The Celebration features two live animal shows by Silly Safaris at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and the return of the Recycle Cycle, a silly contraption made out of reused items. Other programs taking the stage include learning about time banks and chemical free living
With more than 70 exhibitors, many offering children’s activities, the event provides something interesting for all attendees to learn about the planet and what they can do to help reduce their environmental impact.
Highlights of the event include Build Your Own Birdhouse by Porter County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited; appearances by the district’s Glen the Garbologist, Splash the water drop, Porter County Wildlife’s Rocky Raccoon, Metro Recycling’s Scrappy the Turtle, and Hooper the Hobart Caterpillar; free reusable bags to the first 300 families; shredding of confidential papers by Opportunity Enterprises Secure Shred, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. only; free tree saplings for completed event surveys; alternative fuel vehicle displays by South Shore Clean Cities and the Alternate Power Initiative; silent auction to support environmental education; “bingo” game for a chance to win a bicycle; and much more.
Additionally, the first Porter County school/class rain barrel design contest will be judged at the Celebration. Twenty-six barrels from 19 schools will be on display, vying to win the grand prize of two hand chairs made out of recycled plastic. All Earth Day attendees will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite rain barrels.
Exhibitors and vendors include Au Naturel Market, Champion Windows, Calumet Crank Club, Green Housewives Bath Company, Recycled Granite, Indiana Gourd Society, Flora Richardson Foundation, Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy, Friends of the Indiana Dunes, JNJ Organic, and many more.
For a complete listing of programs and exhibitors, visit the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County’s website, www.ItMeanstheWorld.org or call 219-465-3819 for more information.
The 2013 Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration is supported by the following generous sponsors: NIPSCO; Metro Recycling; Northern Indiana Regional Planning Commission; Lakeshore Public Television; Your Values Magazine; Duneland 28; Pratt Industries; Republic Services; Electronic Recyclers International; Anton Insurance; Hobart Lumber; LaPorte Savings Bank; Porter County Building Department; Purdue University North Central Construction Engineering Dept.; Porter County Chapter Ducks Unlimited; Porter County Emergency Management and Opportunity Enterprises. Financial support also provided by Indiana Dunes Tourism.
The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County is a government agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life for Porter County residents by providing convenient, voluntary waste reduction services.