FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  Date: 28 November 2005

Contact: Samantha Whittaker

                  Direct line: (345) 244- 1766  Tel: (345) 949-8092

                  Fax: (345) 949-5936, 946-0664

                  E-mail address: samantha.whittaker@gov.ky

      Official Government Website: www.gov.ky

DEH Joins John Gray Recyclers at Book Fair

      In support of National Education Week, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) took part in the National Book Fair that was held on 26 November. The department’s presence was aimed at educating schools, families and children about environmental health issues.

      At the Mary Miller Hall venue, DEH representatives were joined by their recycling mascot Iggy the Iguana and also by the John Gray High School Recyclers. Together the group formed a dynamic information source that appealed to all ages. Little ones rushed to take pictures with Iggy and receive Don’t Trash It - Recycle It rulers and t-shirts; older children queried the recyclers to find out how they could help to protect the environment, while adults talked with DEH representatives about various health issues, ranging from rat prevention in communities to infectious airborne diseases in homes. 

      Regardless of age, those who visited the booth were pleasantly surprised by the numerous services and advice programmes that the DEH provides. These include waste management, rodent control, proper sanitation procedures, mould prevention and ways to ensure safe drinking water, all offered by DEH to protect the wellbeing of the community. Visitors left the booth feeling safer in the knowledge that the department is constantly on the alert in these areas.

      The fair also proved successful for the recyclers who distributed recycling trees to other schools to enable them to get involved in the six-pack recycling campaign. For the past few months the John Gray Recyclers have been actively collecting six-pack holders and passing them to Bodden Beverages, who reuse the rings to convert 12-pack cases of sodas into six-packs, rather than bringing in more from the US.

      The DEH is committed to helping secure healthy practices facilities and also to assist the student recyclers in their efforts to help the environment.

      For more information on DEH services, persons can contact the department at 949-6696, or for information regarding John Gray students’ recycling efforts. contact the recyclers at johngrayrecyclers@hotmail.com .

(GIS)

Photo Caption: DEH Representatives Sydney Moore and Derrick Williams inform the public at the Book Fair alongside Iggy the Iguana and John Gray High School Recyclers.