The Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Managemet participates in a wide a variety of events for residents, students, educators and professionals throughout Ocean County. The department partners with other government entities, environmental organizations, and community groups to educate the public at these events about the benefits of recycling (and composting) and the specific programs for Ocean County residents interested in learning more about these important processes. Below you will find a list of events, updated throughout the year, where the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management will be on hand to educate and to answer any questions residents may have about our programs. For more information about upcoming events, please contact Mary Jerkowicz, Senior Program Monitor, 732-506-5047.
Upcoming Programs and Events
April 29: Ocean County residents are invited to participate in a free “How To Compost” class, on April 29, from 10:00am-12:00pm, at the Ocean County Recycling Education Center. Healthy compost creates healthy soil! For more information please contact Mary Jerkowicz, Senior Program Monitor, 732-506-5047.
April 29: OCSWM and Master Composter volunteers will be exhibiting at the
Cattus Island Nature Festival. "This year, the Nature Festival is celebrating 37 years of connecting the community with Nature! They are also celebrating the reopening of the Cooper Environmental Center! Enjoy Crafts, Seining, Kayak Tours, Nature Walks, Games and local Exhibitors. These programs are FREE, but fill up quickly so come early!" Members of the Department of Solid Waste Management as well as Master Composter graduates from the Ocean County Master Composter Training Program will be displaying exhibits related to our programs, handing out goodies made from recycled materials, and answering any questions you may have about recycling and/or composting. Come out and say hi!
May 20: The department will be on hand for the Yard, Garden and Native Plant Fair, hosted by
Jakes Branch County Park, from 12:00pm-4:00pm. The Ocean County Soil Conservation District will be presenting “Jersey-Friendly Yards" – be inspired to create your own environmentally sustainable native garden. Come visit our exhibits too in order to learn more about the county's recycling and composting programs!
Click Here for more information or contact Ben Ackerman, Naturalist, Jakes Branch County Park, 732-281-2750 ext. 3602
May 20: On May 20th the department will also be appearing at Ocean Fun Days at Island Beach State Park.
Click Here for more information.
June 4: Join the Ocean County Dept. of Solid Waste Management (and Ocean County Master Composters) as well as other organizations, educators, and environmentally-minded folk for the Barnegat Bay Festival on June 4th, hosted by the
Barnegat Bay Partnership:
"The Barnegat Bay Festival is the Barnegat Bay Partnership's (BBP) signature event, held at a beautiful waterfront location on the first Sunday in June. This day of free family fun reaches out to year-round residents and summer visitors to learn more about the Barnegat Bay, celebrate its resources, and to participate in interactive programs which stress the importance of the ecosystem to our Ocean and Monmouth County communities.
Environmental groups, as well as state and local agencies, provide excellent exhibits and activities that focus on the environmentally responsible ways we all can enjoy and protect the Barnegat Bay and its watershed. The entire family can participate in a myriad of environmental crafts such as fish printing and sea life origami. Festival-goers also enjoy decoy carving, interactive touch tanks, seining demonstrations, and other displays exploring life along the Bay, past and present. For a chance to get up close and personal with the Bay, attendees can take advantage of eco-tours such as kayaking through area creeks or traveling cross-bay with Ocean County naturalists aboard the educational pontoon boat. Artisans and crafters sell marine art, jewelry, garden statuary, pottery, and custom-made skiffs; live music is provided throughout the day and festival food is available."