Common Recycling Myths and Misconceptions

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.

America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Announced for Fall 2018

2017's winner, Lily Woodring's Colorful and detailed billboard. 

2017's winner, Lily Woodring's Colorful and detailed billboard. 

The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is pleased to announce the 9th 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 2017 contest, Valley Point Middle School 7th grader, Lily Woodring, won first place overall. Her design includes the phrase, “I recycle! Do you?” which was one of the themes of the contest. The artwork is detailed, neat, and very colorful showing recyclables holding hands around the planet.

(See previous winning billboard designs here.)

 

Themes for this year are, “I want to be recycled!” 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 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.

Magic of Recycling at Local Schools

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.

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 …

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.

Bulky Waste Round Up Event on June 21, 2014

Annual Bulky Waste and Electronics Collection Day for Whitfield County Announced

The 2014 Bulky Waste Round Up is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at four drop-off locations in Whitfield County.  During the event Whitfield county residents may properly dispose of or recycle bulky waste without paying transportation fees.  The main location is the Old Dixie Hwy. Landfill and Convenience Center at 4189 Old Dixie Hwy. S.E., in Dalton.  Additional locations are the parking lots for Westside Middle School, North Whitfield Middle School, and the old Eastbrook Middle School gym parking lot facing Hill Street.  

Bulky waste refers to items that are too big for a typical household garbage can, like furniture and appliances.  Each of the four drop-off locations will be accepting bulky waste such as mattresses, box springs, sofas, couches, indoor furniture, appliances, baby or child car seats, bookshelves, large plastic toys, grills, swing sets, gym equipment, plastic swimming pools, patio furniture, basketball goals, and scrap metal. 

Electronics to be collected at each location include items like laptop and desktop computers, MP3 players, video game systems, digital cameras, video recorders, DVD players, cellphones, smartphones, scanners, printers, tablets, current television sets, and eBook readers.

Items that are not accepted at the three school locations include tires, home remodeling debris or waste, and household hazardous waste.  Those items need to be delivered to the Old Dixie Highway Landfill and Convenience Center location during the event hours.  Tires will be charged the regular recycling rate that starts as low as $2.00 per tire for passenger vehicles.  Home remodeling debris can be properly disposed of for at the special rate of 1 cent per pound.  Household Hazardous Waste, which includes items such as household pesticides, swimming pool chemicals, varnish and latex paints, can be dropped off free of charge.  For more information about each category visit www.DWSWA.org, call 706-277-2545, or 706-278-5001.

If you are unable to attend the event this year, please note that Household Hazardous Waste is accepted at the Old Dixie Hwy. Landfill and Convenience Center on the third Saturday of each month from 7 am to 2 pm.  Electronics, scrap metal, and bulky waste are accepted year round for no charge at the same location, Monday thru Friday 7 am to 6 pm, and Saturday 7 am to 3 pm.  Three additional Convenience Centers in Whitfield County also accept tires and bulky waste year round with applicable fees.

No matter what you need to drop-off or when, don’t forget to secure your load for cleaner roads. Tie down and put a tarp on items placed in the back of a pick-up truck or trailer. 

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, and Whitfield County Public Works organize this annual event.  For more information or to volunteer, call Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful at 706-226-6211, or e-mail lswafford@dwswa.org.