NEW CASTLE, Del. – Today, Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced that a World Environment Day celebration event will be held at Veterans Memorial Park located near the Delaware Memorial Bridge in New Castle, Delaware. The free public event – featuring exhibits, giveaway items, and interactive, static displays – will be open at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 2:00 p.m.  

“Our World Environment Day celebration, which last year focused on sustainable living with our environment, has been expanded to include topics and exhibits on health & safety, wellness, healthy living, eco-friendly/green products, safe work practices and protective equipment,” said Silvana Dominioni, Director of the DRBA Environmental, Health and Safety Department. “Education and public outreach are the keys to World Environment Day’s goal to inspire change.  If we work together, we can make a difference.”

When:    Thursday, June 1, 2023
Time:     10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where:    Veterans Memorial Park; 163 Cherry Lane, New Castle, Delaware

This year’s World Environment Day campaign focuses on global solutions to combat plastic pollution. Learn about environmental issues from government regulators, environmental experts, and company representatives on such topics as recycling, air quality, food waste, plastic bag bans, renewable energy, greener products, plastic pollution, sustainability, watersheds, endangered species, electric vehicles, nuclear power, energy conservation, marine life and habitat, oil spill cleanup, remediation, ecology, and climate impacts. In addition, we will have exhibits on safety, public safety, health & wellness.

Nearly one hundred (100) exhibitors and vendors will be participating in the four-hour event that will take place both outside and under a large tent at the spacious Veterans Memorial Park off Cherry Lane.  The following is a small sample of what you can experience at the DRBA World Environment Day Celebration:

• Visit traveling touch tanks filled with sea creatures - hands-on crabs, sea stars, sea urchins, mussels, snails, clams, horseshoe crabs, and touch tank of live shellfish and marine animals with displays about shellfish ecology and aquaculture. 
• See up close an electric Ford F-150 and Ford Mach-E (SUV), electric DART bus and a static electric charging station.
• Feel and buy engineered products like beach chairs using up-cycled ocean plastic, consumer made products cruelty-free, no synthetic preservatives, and plant based.
• Shop for clean ingredient self-care products
• Walk through a mobile learning lab sharing information and environmental education on freshwater systems, water quality, fish, and ecology.
• Talk with energy experts on diverse issues such as renewable energy, wind turbines, solar, nuclear, energy conservation and climate.
• Talk with transportation professionals on how your commute can improve air quality.
• Interactive display for fall protection
• Learn the details behind emergency responses.
• Talk with health & wellness professionals on various issues to improve your well-being.

World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, is the biggest international day for the environment. It’s been more than 50 years since the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, widely seen as the first international meeting on the environment.  The first official World Environment Day celebration was held in 1973, marking this as the 50th anniversary. With over 150 countries participating, this World Environment Day engages governments, businesses, civil society, schools, celebrities, cities and communities, raising awareness and celebrating environmental action. The DRBA event is registered on the official UN website and this year’s them is #BeatPlasticPollution

About the Delaware River and Bay Authority
The DRBA, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, and the Forts Ferry Crossing.  The DRBA also manages corporate and aviation properties through its economic development powers - two airports in New Jersey (Millville Airport and Cape May Airport) and three in Delaware (Wilmington Airport, Civil Air Terminal and Delaware Airpark). All DRBA operating revenues are generated through the bridge, ferry and airport facilities.  For more information, visit www.drba.net.