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.

Curbside Recycling in Dalton Increases 14% over 2010

The City of Dalton Curbside Recycling program was recognized for recycling 2,532,120 lbs. in 2011. Pictured are Norman Barashick, Executive Director, Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, Benny Dunn, Executive Director, City of Dalton Public Works, Recycling Ben, mascot and recycling representative, Denise Wood, City of Dalton Councilwoman, Jimmy Step, Curbside Recycling Driver, David Pennington, City of Dalton Mayor.

(Dalton, GA, March 22, 2012) - The City of Dalton Curbside Recycling Program was recognized for it’s 2011 recycling efforts on March 19 at 6:00 pm at Dalton City Hall during the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting.  Representatives from the City Council and the City of Dalton Public Works Department were present for the presentation organized by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s Recycling Center.

In 2011 residents participating in the Curbside Recycling program collected 2,532,120 lbs. of recyclables, a 14% increase over recycling in 2010 when 2,175,820 lbs was collected.  Participation in the Curbside Recycling program during 2011 saved 2,110 cubic yards of landfill space.  If only one type of recyclable had been collected, it would be the weight equivalent of 86,627,437 aluminum drink cans (empty 12 oz.) or 16,880,800 cereal boxes.  Recycling 1,266 tons also saved enough energy to power 89 households for a year.

For more information about recycling call 706-278-5001 or visit www.DWSWA.org. 

Celebrate America Recycles Day 2011

Celebrate America Recycles Day this year in Whitfield County at one of our events organized in conjunction with Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful.   America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling in the United States. One day to educate and motivate. One day to get our neighbors, friends and community leaders excited about what can be accomplished when we all work together. One day to make recycling bigger and better 365 days a year. Get involved!

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY AT WALMART FEATURING RECYCLING BEN

Location: Walmart Super Center, 815 Shugart Road, Dalton, GA 30720

Date: Nov. 12, 2011

Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Event Description: Visit the America Recycles Day booth at the front of the store to learn about the recycling services available in Whitfield County. Take a photo with our mascot, Recycling Ben. Take the pledge to recycle this year with volunteers who are passionate about recycling. Take a look at all the different products you can recycle and see how easy it is to make a positive impact in the community.   For more information call the recycling center at 706-278-5001.

CITY OF VARNELL RECYCLING AREA KICK-OFF DAY

Location: City of Varnell Recycling Area, Corner of Kinnamon and Main St., Varnell, GA 30756

Date: Nov. 15, 2011

Time: 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Event Description: Kick off event for residents in the City of Varnell, Georgia. Join Recycling Ben at the Recycling Area on the Corner of Kinnamon and Main Street to learn about the new recycling area. 
Bring one recyclable item to recycle in the new containers and receive a free item made from recycled materials or featuring the "I recycle" logo. 
Items that are recyclable at this location are: plastic bottles or jugs (any color), aluminum beverage cans, or paper (cardboard, newspaper, etc.).

Find other events in our area at http://americarecyclesday.org/join-event?zip=30720

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Available

Liz and Recycling Ben invite you to look for the silver bucket at a local Convenience Center to drop off your rechargeable batteries for recycling.

Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority Joins Nationwide Call2Recycle Program to Recycle Used Rechargeable Batteries

DALTON, GA - The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority has partnered with Call2Recycle® to make convenient battery recycling available to residents in Whitfield County.  The only free rechargeable battery collection program in North America, Call2Recycle helps communities of all sizes operate rechargeable battery collection programs.

Rechargeable batteries come in all shapes and sizes.  Look for the RBRC Battery Recycling Seals to identify the recyclable ones. 

“Whitfield County is joining thousands of communities across the county in protecting the environment by providing residents with an environmentally responsible way to safely dispose of used batteries,” said Carl Smith, president and CEO of Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), the non-profit that operates Call2Recycle. “Participating in a battery recycling program is one important way communities can make themselves healthier, safer and more sustainable.”

Rechargeable batteries are a long-lasting, eco-friendly power source for many electronic devices, including laptop computers, cell phones, cordless phones, digital cameras, cordless power tools, and two-way radios.  Each rechargeable battery is stamped with the RBRC recycle seal indicating it should be taken to a collection site to be recycled.  Precious metals recovered from used batteries create new batteries, and stainless steel products. (Pictured below are samples of batteries and the recycle seals.)

Four Convenience Centers in the county will serve as collection sites for rechargeable batteries starting Saturday, October 15.  Look for the silver bucket in the lead acid battery recycling section, or ask an attendant for assistance. (Silver bucket is pictured above.)  Locations include the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at the Old Dixie Hwy. Landfill and Convenience Center location at the south end of the county; M.L. King Blvd. Convenience Center in Dalton; McGaughey Chapel Convenience Center in Cohutta; and Westside Convenience Center in Rocky Face.  For specific hours of operation and directions visit www.DWSWA.org and click on Convenience Centers or call the Recycling Center at 706-278-5001.

Since 1996, more than 60 million pounds of rechargeable batteries have been collected through Call2Recycle. It’s the first battery program committed to attain Basel Action Network (BAN) e-Steward qualification and upholds strict third-party standards for environmental safety and social responsibility.  Learn more at www.call2recycle.org or 1.877.2.RECYCLE.

You Can Now Recycle ‘All Plastic Bottles’

DALTON, GA - Recycling just got easier in Whitfield County! Residents can now recycle all plastic bottles and jugs thru one of the recycling venues available in Whitfield County like the City of Dalton Curbside Recycling Program, and all Convenience Center locations.

“We have moved away from telling residents to recycle plastic bottles and jugs with the #1 or #2 recycling symbol.  The recycling symbol numbers are plastic resin identification codes that are used on a wide range of plastic products like cups, trays, tubs, and plastic bags.  Looking for the small numbers is time consuming, and confusing.”  explained Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Coordinator at the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority.   “In order to simplify the identification of recyclables, residents are encouraged to recycle all plastic bottles and jugs.  If a plastic container has a neck smaller than the base it’s a bottle that should go in the recycling bin.  This means that laundry detergent bottles, soda bottles, milk jugs, cleaning solution bottles and more can be recycled.”

There are a large variety of recyclable plastic bottles and jugs found in every room of the home.  For example, plastic jugs and bottles for soda, milk, water, juice, syrup, ketchup, cooking oil, peanut butter, and other condiments.  Cleaning solutions like liquid dish detergent, liquid laundry detergent, bleach, liquid fabric softener, window cleaner, bathroom, and kitchen cleaners.  Personal items like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mouthwash, and lotion.  And finally, individual beverage containers for soft drinks, water, tea, and sports drinks.

Another indicator that a bottle or jug is recyclable is the thread on the neck that allow for a cap to be screwed on.   A margarine tub or yogurt cup do not qualify for recycling since they have a wide mouth opening larger than the base.  Plastic bags, plastic food trays, drinking cups, plastic utensils, motor oil and pesticide bottles and jugs are also not collected for recycling in Whitfield County.  It’s recommended to rinse out plastic bottles to remove food residue and crush to save space.  It’s ok to leave the labels and caps on the containers.

Recycling takes a product at the end of its useful life and uses part or that entire product to make new ones.  As a result, recycling just one container can save energy, water, and other natural resources.  According to NAPCOR, the National Association for PET Container Resources, it takes nineteen 20 oz. plastic bottles to yield enough fiber to make one extra large T-shirt, or one square foot of carpet.

Click here to watch the “All Plastic Bottles” video and download the information sheet.  Or for more details call the Dalton-Whitfield Recycling Center at 706-278-5001.