Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction invites non-profit organizations and schools to register for its second Reuse Fair, scheduled from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, in conjunction with the Northwest Indiana Earth Day Celebration at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd., Valparaiso.
The event aims to connect participants with needed supplies from community members who have these materials or items they want to discard.
“Reuse fairs are popular in Canada,” said Donna Stuckert, public education coordinator for Porter County Recycling. “The idea is to develop and advertise an extensive wish list for participating organizations and schools who want specific items and have a day where the public brings them in.”
She said participants could need items like office supplies or materials for crafts and projects, like buttons, shoe boxes, dishware, keys, cans, old jewelry, magazines, milk jugs, and many items others usually throw in the trash.
“We are promoting reuse,” Stuckert said. “It saves organizations money, diverts items from landfills, and gives people a reason to clean out clutter and pass their items along to others who want them.”
Participation is limited. Organizations and schools interested in participating can visit www.PorterCountyRecycling.org and register their wish lists.
Last September, Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction held its very first Reuse Fair at St. Peter Lutheran Church.
“Portage High School really benefited from the reuse fair,” said Paula Wiese, art/photography teacher, whose school participated last fall. “Originally we were just looking for old cameras for our students to use at school. It turned out people were so generous with their donations. They gave us paints of all kinds, brushes, markers, colored pencils, and other art supplies.
“The community is so helpful to upcycle supplies that are too good to throw away,” Wiese continued. “No one wants to put things in the landfill when it's not necessary.”
For more information on the event, call 219-465-3819.
Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction is an agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life by providing services and educational programs which help residents reduce, reuse, and recycle.