Have you ever take your little blue bin to the curb full of your stocked up recyclables and had a neighbor call out that it just ends up in the garbage anyway? Or tell you that they don’t recycle because it will all decompose anyway? Look through this infographic that debunks 10 of the most common myths about recycling. Next time your neighbor downplays your effort to save the planet, hit them with one of these truth-bombs.
Liz Swafford and Jessica Trivino display several copies of the book “Curious George Discovers Recycling” in front of a Free Little Library box. The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s Recycling Center donated 24 books to the Little Free Library Program hosted by the United Way of Northwest Georgia in honor of Earth Day.
Dalton, GA – A curious monkey is making his way into 22 Little Free Library locations in Whitfield County just in time for Earth Day thanks to a donation by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s Recycling Center. Liz Swafford, Recycling & Education Program Coordinator at the Authority, met with Jessica Trivino, United Way of Northwest Georgia’ Director of Donor Engagement & Strategy, to give 24 copies of the children’s book, “Curious George Discovers Recycling” released just this year.
In the book, George discovers that not everything in his garbage bag is really trash, some of it can be recycled and be transformed into new products. With a recycling contest underway, George is determined to help in ways only a monkey can. The full color story book for lower elementary aged kids also includes tips and crafts they can try at home.
The purpose of the Little Free Library is to provide a place where all readers in the community can share books throughout the year. Participants can leave books to share with others in the box and take a book they would like to read. Volunteers check each box to make sure there are always books available.
To learn more about the Little Free Library program hosted by the United Way visit: www.ourunitedway.org. And, to learn more about recycling in Dalton, and Whitfield County, visit the Authority’s Recycling 101 page online: www.dwswa.org/recycling-101.
Whitfield County residents are invited drop off live, natural Christmas trees and used electronic devices for recycling at the community’s annual Christmas Tree and Electronics Recycling event.
On Saturday, January 7, 2017 Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful volunteers will be collecting live, natural, undecorated Christmas trees, and electronic devices from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at The Home Depot parking lot located at 875 Shugart Road in Dalton. Participants may receive a tree seedling to plant at home, or a promo item from the #LiveLitterFree education campaign that was launched over the summer.
There is no charge for dropping off live, natural Christmas trees. Trees must be free of ornaments, nails, hooks, wire, tinsel, lights, and other decorations. Only natural, live, real trees will be accepted – no artificial trees please. Trees will be recycled on site into mulch that will be used for beautification projects throughout Whitfield County.
Please note that there is a $10.00 fee for CRT (cathode ray tube) television sets and computer monitors. Cash only please. However, other electronics can be dropped off for free. These devices include computer consoles, digital cameras, video cameras, cell phones, gaming systems and components, mp3 players, scanners, flat screens, eBook readers, tablets, and laptops.
Before going to the event secure your load for cleaner and safer roads. Tie down and put a tarp on items placed in the back of a pick-up truck, trailer, or on the roof of a vehicle.
If you are unable to attend there are several options available year-round for recycling Christmas trees and electronic devices.
Whitfield County Public Works staff unload a live Christmas tree during Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful’s annual “treecycling” event. The next event will be on Saturday, January 7 from 8 am to 12 pm.
1.) The City of Dalton Public Works Department will collect Christmas trees from the curb for city residents that have garbage collection service through the city. City residents should call 706-278-7077 to request pick-up. Yard debris is regularly picked up throughout the year every other week.
2.) The four Convenience Centers managed by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority have drop-off areas for yard debris that is recycled year-round. These include the McGaughey Chapel, M.L.King Blvd., Westside, and the Old Dixie Hwy. Landfill & Convenience Centers.
3.) Electronics are collected for recycling year-round only at the Old Dixie Hwy. Landfill & Convenience Center. For hours of operation and directions to any of the four Convenience Centers visit www.DWSWA.org or call 706-277-2545.
Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful would like to thank the following organizations for making this event possible: Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, Whitfield County Public Works Department, and The Home Depot in Dalton.
For more details about the event visit www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org, join the event on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/832947280180731, or call 706-278-5001. Click here to download the event flyer.
The garbage monster makes a surprise appearance in the trash can held by magician Greg Allen during a special performance of the Magic of Recycling show at Pleasant Grove Elementary School on Friday, November 11.
Students look on as a rolled-up newspaper magically transforms back into a tree during the Magic of Recycling show with magician Greg Allen. The program was hosted at Pleasant Grove Elementary and six other local schools during the week of November 7.
Students enjoy a magical learning experience
(Dalton, GA, November 21, 2016) – During the week of November 7 students from seven elementary schools hosted professional magician Greg Allen for a special performance of the “Magic of Recycling”. The educational magic show brings the concept of recycling and landfills to life during an interactive 40-minute program that includes magic tricks and audience participation.
The program was sponsored by Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful’s recycling committee and the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s recycling center in honor of America Recycles Day which is celebrated on November 15. During the month of November you can take the pledge to recycle and learn more about recycling online at www.americarecyclesday.org.
Antioch, Cedar Ridge, Brookwood, Pleasant Grove, Dawnville, Westwood, and Dug Gap Elementary school hosted either one or two performances for students from Kinder to 5th grade for a total of 12 shows. Local schools currently recycle mixed paper, cardboard, and select beverage containers with the Authority’s recycling collection program Target Recycling at School.
Recycling was shown as a way to use things again and again conserving natural resources, and saving landfill space in the process. During the program students saw a glass bottle transform into a new glass bottle, witnessed a telephone book be recycled into a new one, and more. Students enjoyed watching the show while learning about the transformative power of recycling.
The winning billboard design by Madison Powell will be placed at two locations in Whitfield County during the month of November in celebration of America Recycles Day.
Valley Point Middle School 8th graders placed in the America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest for 2016. From left to right: Madison Powell, 1st place and 1st place overall; Eliezer Vasquez, 2nd place.
Pictured are students from Eastbrook Middle who each placed 3rd in their grade level in the America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest for 2016. From left to right: Jazmine Ayabar, 6th grade; Melissa Trujillo, 7th grade; Elena Cabero, 8th grade.
Valley Point Middle School 7th graders placed in the America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest for 2016. From left to right: Camy Rettew, 1st place; Dania Cristobal, 2nd place.
Valley Point Middle School 6th graders placed in the America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest for 2016. From left to right: Macey Cook, 2nd place; Lily Woodring, 1st place.
Valley Point Middle School 8th grader, Madison Powell, is the overall winner of the 2016 America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest hosted by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s program Target Recycling at School. The winning design will be displayed on two billboards in Whitfield County along Glenwood Ave. during the month of November.
Ms. Powell’s design, which was chosen out of 91 entries, includes the phrase “I want to be recycled” one of the themes of the contest. The artwork shows an aluminum beverage can dreaming about being recycled into a space ship or rocket. Materials that are recycled are used to manufacture a variety of products. Aluminum for example may be recycled into beverage cans, construction materials, or parts for new vehicles.
The billboard design contest, now in its seventh year, has a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner from each grade level which includes 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. The nine winners, listed below, received a certificate of participation and a gift bag with items made from recycled materials. The first place overall, who is the winner of the billboard, was selected from the first place design from each grade level.
6th grade:
7th grade:
8th grade:
Target Recycling at School provides recycling collection services and environmental education opportunities to schools in Whitfield County. For more information call 706-278-5001 or visit www.dwswa.org.
America Recycles Day is a community-driven event dedicated to promoting recycling awareness, commitment, and action in the U.S. thru its partnership with Keep America Beautiful. It’s celebrated annually on November 15. For more information on recycling, and to take the pledge to recycle visit www.AmericaRecyclesDay.org.
