Let's make a difference and elect Democrats here in Sussex County. We need your Creative Ideas and Efforts. This is the place to get involved and learn about the issues that affect us here in Sussex County.

Link to the Shore Democrats Website to sign up for the luncheon

• Food waste is 25% of Delaware's landfill matter. So we launched the Delaware Community Composting Initiative to provide educational programs, outreach and technical assistance to potential project sites to establish community composting projects and to encourage curbside composting.  In less than 6 months we have 6+ sites gearing up to launch in 2023.  Would you like to add your school or neighborhood to that #? Get in touch!
   
• SB 24 to ban balloon releases went into effect on 7-1-22.  Early data indicates a drop in balloons being found during beach cleanups:
  Numbers tracked by the Delaware Chapter of Surfrider Foundation indicates 1,088 balloons were collected during 56 beach cleanups in 2021, but as of October 2022 only 392 balloons had been found in 70 beach cleanups so far in 2022
  Ok, we aren't yet at ZERO, but that is a good improvement!
   
• Senate Bill 134 aimed to ban the use of expanded polystyrene (aka Styrofoam) and plastic picks, and allow plastic straws by request only, in dining establishments:
  - sailed through the state Senate by a 12-9 vote
  - 6+ surrounding states (including D.C.) already have similar laws in place, some even more restrictive than proposed by SB134
   
• Zero!  Cost that is, to the 860+ students who have already been part of this new program!  The Wild & Scenic Film Festival for Schools program was launched and brings inspiring independent films with environmental themes to all school grade levels free of charge.  Check it out and inquire about bringing it to your affiliated schools!
   
• The 3rd annual Delaware Youth Environmental Summit (YES!) was attended by:
  - 360+ high school students from
  - 18 Delaware high schools from all 3 counties
  - again, at ZERO cost to the students and teacher/advisors, thanks to our generous donors and sponsors

• Addressing the #1 type of litter, PFD was excited to partner with Delaware Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation to launch the “Hold On To Your Butt” campaign aimed at reducing cigarette butt littering on Delaware’s beaches
   
• Nine Monthly Lunch & Learn webinars were held in 2022 ranging in topics from Sustainable Fashion, Single-Use Plastic and its Role in Climate Change, Curbside Composting, the Surfrider Foundation's Ocean Friendly Restaurant Program, exploring Truth in Labeling issues, Delaware's oyster shell recycling programs, and more.  All of our online programs can be watched on the PFD YouTube channel
   
• More than 3,100 Delaware residents were directly touched by or participated in one of PFD's educational programs in 2022, from online webinars, to school programs, community festivals, and more
   
• FIRST ever Senate hearing on plastic pollution - outreach by PFD advocates with Delaware's U.S. Senator Tom Carper, Co-Chair of the Senate's Environment & Public Works Committee, led to the first ever Congressional hearing on plastic pollution reduction laying the groundwork for federal level legislation to reduce single use plastic pollution.