Closed for Labor Day - Landfill, Convenience Centers

Four Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority facilities will be closed on Monday, September 4, 2017, in observance of Labor Day.

Locations include the

• Old Dixie Landfill & Convenience Center,
• McGaughey Chapel Convenience Center,
• Westside Convenience Center, and the
• M.L. King Convenience Center. 

All locations will reopen on Tuesday, September 5, 2017, from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. 

For more information call the main office at 706-277-2545.

Labor Day Holiday Schedule:

Saturday, September 2, 2017 - All Locations Open - Normal Hours (7:00 am – 3:00 pm)

Monday, September 4, 2017 – All Locations Closed

Tuesday, September 5, 2017 – All Locations Open (7:00 am – 6:00 pm)  (Westside Normally Closed)

Wednesday, September 6, 2017 – Resume Normal Operating Days and Hours (McGaughey Chapel Closed)

America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Announced for Fall 2017

The 8th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest is underway. Pictured is the winning design for 2016 designed by Madison Powell, an 8th grader from Valley Point Middle School.

The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is pleased to announce the 8th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders attending public or private schools participating in the Target Recycling at School program in Whitfield County. 

Students are invited to design a billboard in keeping with the spirit of America Recycles Day, which is celebrated yearly on November 15. The top design out of the three grade levels will be displayed during the month of November on two billboards in Whitfield County.

Schools in Whitfield County eligible to participate include Eastbrook Middle, New Hope Middle, North Whitfield Middle, Valley Point Middle, Westside Middle, Dalton Middle, Northstar School, Crossroads Academy, Christian Heritage School, and Learning Tree School.

During the 2016 contest, Valley Point Middle School 8th grader, Madison Powell, won first place overall. Her design, chosen out of 91entries includes the phrase “I want to be recycled” which was one of the themes of the contest. The artwork is eye catching and very colorful showing an aluminum can that is dreaming of being recycled into a rocket ship traveling in outer space.

(See previous winning billboard designs here.)

Themes for this year are, “I recycle! Do you?” and “I recycle with Recycling Ben!” First, second, and third place prizes will be given in each of the three grade levels. The grand prize is chosen from the three first place winners. 

The Contest Guide with two versions of the official entry form can be downloaded at www.DWSWA.org. The deadline for entries is October 16, 2017. There is no entry fee, however, an official entry form needs to be included with the artwork. Only artwork submitted directly from a school representative will be accepted. Winners will be announced on October 23. 

For more information contact Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator, at 706-278-5001 or e-mail: lswafford@dwswa.org. To learn more about America Recycles Day visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

Litter Enforcement Workshop To Be Held September 6

Litter Enforcement Training Workshop

September 6, 2017 • Dalton, GA

Register Here

“Successful litter prevention requires a three-pronged approach including community education, eradication and enforcement”, said Sarah Visser, Executive Director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, “Law enforcement officers and members of the judicial system are crucial partners in keeping our communities litter free and economically vibrant.”

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation awarded a grant to Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful and several other Georgia affiliates to make communities safer by encouraging the enforcement of Georgia’s Comprehensive Litter Prevention and Abatement Act. “These workshops provide them with the tools and information they need to enforce the law successfully” added Visser.

Open to police officers, sheriff’s departments, code enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges and others charged with enforcing the law, the workshops, hosted by local Keep Georgia Beautiful Affiliates, will connect officials with resources and information to support them in reducing litter. Attendees will learn how aggressive litter enforcement has been used as a deterrent to additional crimes and how to work with the Courts and others to successfully deter littering and illegal dumping.

The workshop for the Northwest Georgia area will be presented by DNR Game and Fish Officer Scott Carroll on Wednesday, September 6 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Dalton Police Department’s training room at 301 Jones Street. 3 hours of POST credit is available for certified law enforcement officers that complete the workshop in the subjects of Environmental Law Enforcement, Tactics, and Solutions.

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is hosting the event with special thanks to the Dalton Police Department, and the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. The workshop is available for free to pre-registered attendees, thanks in part to the grant from the Foundation. Pre-registration is available online at https://kdwb.ticketleap.com/litter2017 until September 5.

2017 School Beautification Grants Available Thru Keep Dalton Whitfield Beautiful

(Dalton, GA, August 1, 2017) – Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is pleased to announce the availability of School Beautification Grants for Fall 2017. The committee for Beautification and Community Greening has established mini-grants in celebration of National Planting Day. Beautification grants may range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $250.

Public and private schools in the Dalton, GA and Whitfield County area are invited to apply for funding that can help implement a project related to planting native plants. A school club, a single classroom, whole grade level or the entire school may organize a project and apply for a grant.

National Planting Day is celebrated annually by Keep America Beautiful in the fall as an opportunity to encourage volunteers to plant native species restoring ecological balance to the environment while creating greener, more beautiful communities. Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is making these grants available to improve the visual aspects of our community through projects that beautify and clean the environment.

Knowing that children play a very important part in making this happen we want them to reap the benefits by participating in a project for their very own school. Beautification projects could include establishing or supporting a school garden, planting flowers in an outdoor space, or using plants for educational purposes.

Grant applications must be submitted online no later than September 8 at www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org using the form on the Beautification Grant Application page.  Previous projects from 2015 and 2016 can be seen on the School Beautification Projects Page. 

For questions regarding the form or any aspects of your proposed project call executive director Liz Swafford at 706-278-5001. Grant winners will be announced September 15. Projects must be completed by December 1 and a project summary and photos are to be submitted by December 19. 

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Mural to Remain Downtown

Press Release

Contact: Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, 706-278-5001, Lswafford@dwswa.org

June 30, 2017

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Mural to Remain Downtown

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful (KDWB) was informed Wednesday that the convenience store which hosts it’s mural, “An Earth Worth Saving” by local artist Henry Green, is scheduled to be remodeled by the new owners as part of their ongoing rebranding efforts. The much-needed face-lift included painting over the mural so the building could comply with the new branding guidelines. However, an agreement has been reached with the new owners to keep the mural as is while still remodeling the rest of the store.

MAPCO’s Vice-President of Operations, Dave DeSerio stated, “We have recently been made aware of the concern the Dalton community has in regards to the beautiful mural at one of our MAPCO locations. We want to ensure Dalton that the painting will not be removed and we are proud to be a part of such a creative community. As your neighborhood store, we support local efforts and we’re looking forward to ways in which we can further get involved in Dalton, GA.”

The mural, which was officially announced last April during a ribbon cutting ceremony, is located at the MAPCO convenience store on 304 N. Thornton Ave. in Dalton across the street from the Dalton Green and First Baptist Church. It was commissioned in 2015 in partnership with 1000 Words Dalton Art Project, then completed in early 2016.  

Executive Director for KDWB, Liz Swafford, has been in contact with MAPCO corporate management this week in an effort to come to a favorable agreement regarding the immediate future of the public art project. “Our discourse with management has been very positive. They understand that the mural is important to the residents of this community and will continue to honor the agreement we had made with the previous owners,” said Swafford.

KDWB chairman Anthony Cline started a petition on Causes.com Wednesday evening to provide an area for residents to show their support and express their desire to preserve the mural during store renovations. Several residents, Dalton City Council and Mayor Mock also sent letters to show their support for keeping the mural on the side of the store.

“The show of support for public art and the recycling and sustainability message of the mural has been amazing,” added Swafford. “KDWB is thankful for your support. We look forward to working on more public art projects with 1000 Words in the future.”