2024 Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration Takes Stage April 20

VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County will host its 16^th annual Earth Day celebration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E Division Rd, Valparaiso, IN. The event is free to the public and will feature an array of vendors, wildlife shows, a magician performance, interactive children's games, guest speakers, birdhouse building, Working Bikes, live music, food, SecureShred, Smokey Bear, Reuse Fair, Rain Barrel Design Contest, electric vehicles on display, giveaways and an estimated 2,000 attendees.
The theme for this year is “Planet vs. Plastics”. Participants will be incorporating this theme into their booth display. In light of this theme, attendees are invited to wear Earth Day inspired outfits. The first 250 attendees will receive a free reusable bag.
SecureShred will be featured on site to handle your document shredding with the highest standard of confidentiality and professionalism. Bring your documents to the event for secure disposal. A truck will be located in the Expo Center parking lot for collection.
Donate a bike to help support Working Bikes, an organization that collects donated bikes from all over Chicago and the Midwest. These bikes are shipped to international bike projects, repaired and donated locally to individuals and families in Chicago, or fixed up and sold in their storefront.
Multiple vendors will appear to serve Earth Day attendees. Bright Love Coffee, Dr. Dawg and Ben’s Pretzels will be supplying food and beverages. Bring your reusable bottles for water refill at one of four water cooler stations.
Speakers will be presenting throughout the event. Learn about microplastic pollution from Dr. Julie Peller from Valparaiso University, discover House Enrolled Act 2016-1053, prohibiting municipalities from banning single use plastics, or let recycling experts answer your tricky questions at Earth Day.
Schools will be showcasing their creativity during the Rain Barrel Design Contest for cash prizes. Earth Day attendees will vote on their favorite barrel. Contests winners will be announced at 1 p.m. at the event.
Promote “Reuse” and keep items out of the landfill by donating to organizations in need at the Reuse Fair. The Reuse Fair connects participating non-profit organizations and schools that request supplies with community members who have items they no longer want. Donations will be divided amongst benefitting organizations based on wish lists. Attendees are asked to drop off donations from 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Donations must be clean and in good condition.
DONATION WISH LISTS:
 
Yost Elementary PTO
Garden Hand Tools
Bird Bath
Bird Feeder
Planter pots
Rocks/Stones/Pebbles
Sharpie markers
Popsicle sticks
Cardstock
Yoga Mats
Watering cans
 
Washington Park Zoo
Pet kennels/crates/bird cages
Plastic/silk plants
Shredded paper (no staples)
Art supplies: canvas, paint, paper
Garden tools
Chain
Pet supplies
Rope
Bird feeders
Yard tools: shovels, rakes, brooms
 
Art Barn School of Art
Gently used paint brushes
Magazines, calendars, scrapbook/origami papers
Plastic storage bins with lids
Lego bricks
wooden chairs/small tables (especially kid-sized ones) – for guests to paint at Art Blitz
digital scale
light bulbs
11×14″ canvas frames (no glass)
 
Last Chance Rescue
blankets
comforters
dog and/or cat beds
 
Kouts Elementary Art
Bubble wrap/padded shipping envelopes of all sizes
Contact paper
Wooden Rolling Pins
Art supplies
Large sponges
Liquid hand soap & dish soap
Small and Large Hot Glue Sticks
Duck Cloth/Canvas (the larger the better)
Rectangle Plastic Table Cloths
Yarn
 
Opportunity Enterprises
Fake flowers
Picture books & audiobooks on CD
Gardening supplies
Craft supplies (markers, pencils, crayons, beads, scrapbook paper, paint, paintbrushes, buttons, etc.)
Puzzles less than 100 pieces
Tools
Secondhand instruments
Sporting goods
Plastic bins and tubs
Scrap wood
 
Gibson Woods Wild Ones
One inch plastic blinds
 
For more information regarding District events, please contact info@PorterCountyRecycling.org or Gabrielle@PorterCountyRecycling.org.