Rain or shine, no matter the weather, the celebration of Environmental Day takes place Sunday, May 19, from 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. And all area residents are welcome.

Put on by the friendly folks at the Rockland County Solid Waste Mangement Authority, tucked away at the wee end of Torne Valley Road, Sunday’s Environmental Day will be a tented event (proper planning just for you) and includes a wide assortment of exhibitors, including We Care Organics, the Rockland Farm Alliance, a Rockland County Americorp center and Rockland County Teachers center, and much more.

There will be a farmers’ market with fresh goods that includes Auntie El’s and Suburban Foragers. Kerri Scales and company at the RCSWM have been working tirelessly to put on a day that shows off what Rockland Recycling is all about — you and the environment.

“Outreach to the community is an essential tool for educating the public about these programs, which is why Environmental Day is so important,” adds Kerri Scales, Education Coordinator for the Authority.

“The Authority’s focus has always been to increase waste diversion through reduction, reuse and recycling programs,” says Anna Roppolo, Executive Director for the Authority.

Both Roppolo and Scales work at the hilltop plant in offices surrounded by all those bio-solids composting nearby in building adjacent to where all the county’s paper and plastic comes to be separated and processed in huge hanger-like warehouses.

Environmental Day has lots of activities aimed at children and all sorts of demonstrations and interactive displays, including a Native Plants Demonstration Garden that will be open for strolling to learn about gardening with native New York State plants. Other activities includes a solar powered merry-go-round, balloon artist, environmental illustrator, airplane simulators, and live music with the Bossy Frog Band.

The heart of the day celebrates will be the RCSWMA Rockland Recycles! Awards, with a ceremonies taking place between 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. to honor Rocklanders for excellence in recycling, waste prevention and reduction programs.

Alongside Torne Valley Road, visitors will have the chance to visit the Ramapo Saltbox House where Cornell Environmental Educator Chuck Stead will surely have the old stove burning and a warm greeting for visitors. Stead reconstructed the Town of Ramapo’s 200-year-old Ramapo Saltbox House with with help from students.

Don’t let a little rain ruin at perfectly good day to go green.