Going Green In The Hamptons: Westhampton Beach Holding 7th Annual Earth Day Celebration

On Saturday, April 25th, Westhampton Beach is inviting the East End community to join them during the 7th Annual Earth Day Celebration, starting with a Beach Clean-up at 9 a.m. at 906 Dune Road, hosted by Barrier Beach Preservation Association of Westhampton Dunes.

The event has activities for all ages. (Photo: www.facebook.com)

Following the stroll along the beach to pick up debris, stop by the Village Green on Mill Road and Main Street in Westhampton Beach from 1 to 4 p.m. for family friendly activities and to meet local ecofriendly organizations and businesses. This year, EcoFriends group has joined forces with the Moriches Bay Project and the Westhampton Beach Free Library to produce the Earth Day Celebration sponsored by Rechler Equity Partners.

“Rechler Equity Partners has a long history of supporting the communities in which it operates,” expressed Gregg Rechler, who serves as managing partner at Rechler Equity Partners with his cousin, Mitchell Rechler. “We are honored to help make this year’s Beach Clean-up and Earth Day Festival a great success and fun event for all involved.”

For those with outdated technology that you never use anymore, drop it off and ecoTech Management will collect it. “Gather up all those old computers, faxes, phones, small appliances, cell phone, tablets, gaming devices, TV’s radios, anything that plugs in or runs on battery,” said Beth Ann Felshman, one of the Earth Day organizers. “Here is a free and legal way for you to dispose of these items and help our Earth Day Celebrations as well.” If you have an excessive amount of E-waste items to get rid of, a special pickup to your home or business can be arranged.

The celebration kicks off with a Beach Clean-up. (Photo: www.facebook.com)

The Westhampton Beach Earth Day event has added additional recycling and repurposing chances this year. Opportunities include Ewaste by ecoTech Management, which should be drop off on Beach Road behind the Post Office (170 Main Street, Westhampton Beach); unused prescription drugs, over the counter drugs and vitamins, which should be dropped off at the Police Station (165 Mill Road, Westhampton Beach); old sheets, towels, blankets and pillows for Bidewee; used pet supplies and toys for Bidewee; and pots, pans, metal utensils and other metal kitchen tools.

“These recycling programs are important to the protection of our water systems as well as the overall health of our environment. E-waste, prescription drugs and plastic bags make up a substantial amount of our overall landfill and water pollution,” shared Naomi Collins, one of the organizers. “This is the second year we are able to offer the community education as well as an opportunity for action.”

Attendees can meet live animals with Ranger Eric or have their face painted by Agostino Art. (Photo: www.facebook.com)

Besides recycling, attendees can enjoy music by Project Vibe, pop-up yoga classes, face painting by Agostino Art, live animals from Ranger Eric, a bouncy castle, electric scooter demos, a scavenger hunt organized by the Westhampton Beach High School CURE Group, and eco-friendly activities like building bat houses and bird houses, planting vegetables, and learning about Eel Grass and Oysters from the Moriches Bay Project.

The event will culminate with a Wrap Party from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Dee Angelo’s Pleasant Avenue Cafe (149 Main Street, Westhampton Beach).

For more information, visit whbearthday.com.