RVCC Students Assist in Cleanup at Wildlife Preserve
As part of Raritan Valley Community College’s commemoration of Sustainability Month, a group of environmental science students participated in a beach cleanup at Taylor Wildlife Preserve, Cinnaminson, on October 29. The 49 volunteers removed more than 5,000 pieces of trash and recyclables from the preserve, one of many areas along the main stem of the Delaware River that are teeming with washed up marine debris. The litter that accumulates in and along the waterways is harmful to wildlife as well as humans.
The cleanup was organized by Dr. Jay Kelly, RVCC Associate Professor of Biology/Environmental Science, in conjunction with the Friends of the Taylor Wildlife Preserve, NJ Natural Lands Trust, and Clean Ocean Action (COA), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the marine waterways of New Jersey and New York. For more than 30 years, COA has held annual beach sweeps along the coast, educated the public about marine science and pollution prevention, and worked to implement policy change to protect the marine environment. The organization also provides internships to RVCC students, enabling them to assess the debris accumulating along the river and analyze water samples for micro-plastics.
To learn more about marine pollution and opportunities to assist the environment, visit www.CleanOceanAction.org.
Raritan Valley Community College’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. Serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for close to 50 years, RVCC is an educational and cultural center that is nationally recognized for its innovative programming, service to the community and environmental leadership. The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, professional development and personal enrichment courses. The College also has a performing arts center and planetarium.
RVCC is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community’s businesses, and state-of-the-art technology. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2016
Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383
PR #57
