America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Winner Announced

Eastbrook Middle School 8th grader, Yoselin Rodriguez, is the overall winner of the 2023 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 (one on Cleveland Highway and one on Glenwood Avenue) during the month of November to recognize America Recycles Day on November 15th.

2nd Overall Winner was interviewd by Channel 3 news about her artwork and particpation

Ms. Rodriguez’s design includes the phrase “I Recycle, Do You!” as one of the themes of the contest. The artwork features the Dalton Recycling Center’s mascot Recycling Bin holding his own design with a recycling bin on it in front of an earth. Surrounding the earth is a variety of items that can be recycled like a cardboard box, aluminum can, milk jug, and more. The piece is detailed and eye-catching.

The program was covered by Leah Bolling at Local 3 News. She interviewed Nancy Vega, 2nd Overall winner, a teacher participant, Mrs. Corey Orr at Eastbrook Middle, and our Recycling and Education Coordinator, Amy Hartline.

The billboard design contest, now in its fourteenth year, has 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from each school that submitted entries. The three 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. All of the classrooms that participated received free art school supplies.

Pictured from left to right are Yoselin Rodriguez, Javier Torres, and Nancy Vega.

Eastbrook Middle

1)      Yoselin Rodriguez (first overall)

2)      Nancy Vega (second overall)

3)      Javier Torres

 

New Hope Middle

1) Ashley Flores Teacher: Casey Mitchell (third overall)

2) Abby Reynosa Teacher: Darlene Morgan

3) Sophie Lofty Teacher: Darlene Morgan

 

Valley Point Middle

1) Chelsea Hernandez

2) Ashley Urbano

3) Natalia Gonzalez

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. through its partnership with Keep America Beautiful. It’s celebrated annually on November 15. For more information on recycling, and to take the pledge to #BeRecycled visit www.AmericaRecyclesDay.org. 

Volunteers Remove Litter from Conasauga Watershed for Make a Difference Day

We all think litter is unsightly, but it takes a group of special people to do something about it. The 29th annual Conasauga River Watershed Cleanup saw an incredible turnout of 219 dedicated volunteers from Dalton, Georgia, and the surrounding regions.

“It is heartening to experience dedicated and concerned volunteers amidst the heavy news in today’s world!” This is what Carl Wilms, Park Creek Elementary gardener and facilitator, said about the turnout for the cleanup.

Held in partnership with the United Way of Northwest Georgia's Make a Difference Day, this year's cleanup event proved to be a memorable one, filled with surprising discoveries, tireless efforts, and a shared commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the Southeastern United States.

During the cleanup, hosted in October on the United Way of Northwest Georgia’s Make a Difference Day, volunteers went to various sites across three counties to help clean up the watershed which transports water from the land into tributary streams and the Conasauga River. By removing litter from this area, it can be cleared away before it is too broken down by weathering to collect or before it is washed down the river and into the ocean by the flow of water.

Greatchen Lugthart, one of the cleanup organizers, said about her experience during the event, “It was amazing to see so many students participating in cleaning up their community.  They got in the water, got dirty, and found tires, buried carpet, car parts, and bikes at our site.  It’s sort of like a treasure hunt to see who can find the most unusual items.  We had a good time and the weather was great.” Some other surprising finds from this year includes a bowling ball at Crown Creek, a wading pool in the Mill Creek Tributary, and a folding chair at the Dalton Recreation Center.

Together, volunteers cleaned up 6,538 pounds of trash and 36 tires. Taking care of the Conasauga River, which winds through Polk County in Tennessee and along the border of Whitfield and Murray counties, and its tributaries helps create a more beautiful community and supports a healthy environment for the wildlife dependent on the river.

Discussing the impact of the cleanup, Stephen Bontekoe, Executive Director, for Limestone Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council said, “Reducing litter in the community not only improves the community aesthetic but also improves water quality for wildlife, sport and drinking water.”

Sites included in this year’s event were the Conasauga River at Highway 2 bridge and the Lower Kings/Norton bridge. Other cleanup sites included Holly Creek in Murray County, the snorkel hole in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, and Coahulla Creek at Prater’s Mill. City of Dalton sites included Crown Creek, Lakeshore Park, Al Rollins Park, Park Creek Elementary School, and a Mill Creek tributary. U.S. Forest Service employees from the Conasauga Ranger District cleaned up sites on Sumac and Rock Creeks on the Chattahoochee National Forest and Mohawk Industries employees cleaned up a small stream near the Dalton Recreation Center.

The event sponsors provided the funds needed to purchase cleanup supplies, commemorative fanny packs, hand sanitizer, patches, and t-shirts. They also helped the group purchase ten copies of Casper Cox’s Snorkeling Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia to raffle out to volunteers. Event sponsors and organizers include: Shaw Industries, Allchem, Engineered Floors, Dalton Utilities, North Georgia EMC, the Dalton Rotary Club, The Nature Conservancy, Rivers Alive, United Way of Northwest Georgia, Prater’s Mill Foundation, Dalton State College, Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, Mohawk Industries, Whitfield County Public Works, Limestone Valley RC&D, US Forest Service, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, Murray County and Whitfield County Extension, and Keep Chatsworth-Murray Beautiful. The amount of time donated by volunteers during this year’s event is valued at $20,892.

The Conasauga River Watershed Cleanup has long been a participant of the State of Georgia’s Rivers Alive, one of the South’s largest volunteer efforts to beautify water resources.  So far in 2023, 6,831 volunteers have participated in 95 clean-up events throughout the state and have removed 233,745 pounds of garbage from 944 miles of Georgia waterways. For more information about efforts in other areas or the statewide campaign, visit www.RiversAlive.org.

Landfill, Convenience Centers To Be Closed Thursday, November 23

Facilities closed in observance of Thanksgiving Day

The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority has announced the holiday hours of operation for it’s four facilities in Whitfield County. Locations include the Old Dixie Landfill & Convenience Center, McGaughey Chapel Convenience Center in Cohutta, Westside Convenience Center in Rocky Face, and the M.L. King Convenience Center in Dalton. 

All locations will be closing early and will be open from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm on Wednesday, November 22 including the McGaughey Chapel location that is normally closed on Wednesdays. All four sites will be closed on Thursday, November 23 in observance of Thanksgiving Day. All locations will reopen on Friday, November 24 from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm and resume normal hours.

For more information visit www.DWSWA.org or call 706-277-2445.

Thanksgiving Day Holiday Schedule:

• Wednesday, November 22, 2023 – All Locations OPEN - EARLY CLOSING: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM  (McGaughey Chapel Normally Closed)

• Thursday, November 23, 2023 – All Locations CLOSED – Thanksgiving Day

• Friday, November 24, 2023 – All Locations OPEN – 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Resume Normal Schedule)

Landfill, Convenience Centers To Be Closed for Labor Day

Facilities closed in observance of Labor Day

 (Dalton, GA, August 28, 2023) –  Four Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority facilities will be closed on Monday, September 4, 2023 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, 2023 from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.  For more information visit www.DWSWA.org or call 706-277-2444.

Labor Day Holiday Schedule:

Saturday, September 2, 2023 - All Locations Open - Normal Hours (7:00 am – 3:00 pm)

Monday, September 4, 2023 – All Locations Closed

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 – All Locations Open (7:00 am – 6:00 pm)  (Westside Normally Closed)

Wednesday, September 6, 2023 – Resume Normal Operating Days and Hours (McGaughey Chapel Closed)

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority

-          Website: www.DWSWA.org

Amy Hartline

Recycling & Education Program Coordinator

-          E-mail: ahartline@dwswa.org

-          Office: 706-278-4001

-          Cell: 706-264-3718

America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Announced for Fall 2023

The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is pleased to announce the 14th 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. This year, students can participate whether they are attending classes virtually or in person.

2023's winner, Juliana’s billboard on Glenwood Avenue which was shown off to residents for months after the contest ended.

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.

 The artwork is easy to design at home because students only need one piece of 8.5” by 11” white paper and coloring tools. This way, parents of middle school students staying at home this semester can have them compete as well.

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

During the 2022 contest, New Hope Middle School 7th grader, Juliana Madrigal, won first place overall. Her design includes the phrase, “I recycle with Recycling Ben!” which was one of the themes of the contest. The artwork shows off the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s mascot, Recycling Ben along with a set of drawing of items you can put in your recycling bin such as milk jugs, cardboard boxes, and worksheets. It is a detailed and clear drawing that is designed well for the message to be understandable while quickly driving by.

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 school’s entrants. The grand prize is chosen from each of the first-place winners. All schools that compete will receive free school art supplies.

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, 2022. There is no entry fee, however, an official entry form needs to be included with the artwork. Winners will be announced on October 18. 

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