Recycle Your Christmas Tree on January 8, 2011

DALTON, GA - Recycle your Christmas tree on January 8, 2011 during “Bring One For The Chipper”. This free event will be held at the Home Depot parking lot at 875 Shugart Road in Dalton from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful volunteers will be collecting live, natural, undecorated Christmas trees from the public. In exchange for bringing a Christmas tree for the Chipper, residents will receive a free tree seedling or a free seed packet to plant at home.

Trees will be recycled into mulch that will be used for beautification projects and is available for free to residents within Whitfield County. “Bring One For The Chipper” has been a holiday tradition in Dalton-Whitfield for over ten years. The 2011 event marks 20 years of “treecycling” in the state of Georgia. This event allows communities to put discarded trees to good use. Over 5.5 million trees have been recycled as mulch or habitats for wildlife since the beginning of the program in 1991.

“Bring One For The Chipper” would not be possible without the support of state and local sponsors. State sponsors for this year’s event include the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Keep Georgia Beautiful program, The Home Depot, The Davey Tree Expert Company, Ferry-Morse Seed Co., and 11 Alive – Atlanta’s NBC Affiliate. Local sponsors include Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, Whitfield County - Georgia Forestry Commission, Whitfield County Public Works Department, The Home Depot in Dalton, and Dalton Falls Miniature Golf.

Christmas trees must be free of ornaments, nails, hooks, wires, tinsel, lights, and other decorations. Only natural, live, real trees will be accepted, no artificial trees please.

If residents cannot participate the day of the event, there are two additional options available.

1.) The City of Dalton Public Works Department will collect trees from the curb. City residents should call 706-278-7077 for pick-up.

2.) All four Convenience Centers managed by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority have drop-off locations 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 Center. For hours of operation and directions visit www.DWSWA.org or call 706-278-5001.

For more details visit www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org or call 706-278-5001.

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful Honored by Keep America Beautiful for Achievements in 2010

Local Organization Recognized as Among the “Best of the Best” Nationwide

DALTON, GA – Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful’s acceptance of the Keep America Beautiful President’s Circle Award for 2010 was announced during Keep America Beautiful’s 57th annual National Conference in Orlando, Florida on December 10th.  The President’s Circle Award recognizes exemplary performance made by certified affiliates of the national nonprofit to reduce litter, minimize waste and recycle, and beautify their local communities.

In qualifying for a President’s Circle Award, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful has meet Keep America Beautiful’s standards of excellence by conducting an annual Litter Index survey, calculating the affiliate’s cost/benefit ratio, and engaging local volunteers to take greater responsibility for their community environment.  In addition, award recipients must conduct activities in Keep America Beautiful’s three core focus areas of litter prevention, recycling and waste reduction, and beautification/community greening.

During 2010 Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful held several events, including Bring One For The Chipper, Community Pride Day, Adopt-a-Mile cleanups, and educational sessions.  “Thanks to the participation of local volunteers, who are passionate about making a difference in our community environment, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful has had a fantastic year.” said Liz Swafford, Executive Director of Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful.  “I want to thank each volunteer, our board members, and the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority for their support of our local affiliate in 2010.  And, I want to encourage others to join us in 2011.  Visit www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org to register for our newsletter or call 706-278-5001 to see how you can participate.”

“One of Keep America Beautiful’s most effective tools is the work of our grassroots network of affiliate organizations, which has an impact on millions of Americans each year,” said Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Matthew M. McKenna. “Our affiliates are providing real solutions to problems like litter, graffiti, illegal dumping and other community blights. By engaging people of all ages in community improvement efforts, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is represented among the best in promoting the values Keep America Beautiful espouses nationally.”

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of more than 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. For additional information, visit www.kab.org.

254 Volunteers Made a Difference at the 16th Annual Conasauga Watershed Clean-up

DALTON, GA -  254 volunteers from Whitfield and Murray Counties helped clean-up seven locations along the Consasauga River Watershed during the United Way of Northwest Georgia’s “Make a Difference Day” on Saturday, October 23rd.

The Conasauga River, one of the six most biologically diverse freshwater river systems in the United States, supports 24 endangered species and a dozen other imperiled species, including the Southern Pigtoe mussel and the Conasauga log perch, a fish found nowhere else in the world.  After spending the morning cleaning up different sections of the Conasauga Watershed, seven volunteer groups had removed 12,621 pounds of trash and debris.  Items collected included discarded tires, rims, car parts, plastic bags, cans, bottles, used carpet, and even broken bicycles.  Chinese Privet, an invasive shrub, was also removed at the Prater’s Mill location.

Below are the seven locations in Whitfield and Murray counties selected as clean-up sites followed by the number of volunteers, and amount of trash and debris removed at each one.

1. Conasauga River at Lower King’s Bridge/Norton Bridge, 35 volunteers, 5,020 lbs.

2. Conasauga River at Highway 2 Bridge, 51 volunteers, 360 lbs.

3. Conasauga River at Carlton Petty Road Bridge, 17 volunteers, 790 lbs.

4. Holly Creek, Murray County, on the Chattahoochee National Forest, 38 volunteers, 625 lbs.

5. Mill Creek tributary in the City of Dalton, 41 volunteers, 3,680 lbs.

6. Coahulla Creek at Prater’s Mill, 60 volunteers, 2,060 lbs.

7. McClellan Creek in Dalton, 12 volunteers, 86 lbs.

This year’s Conasauga Watershed Clean-up included fifty more volunteers than last year. The amount of clean-up time donated by the 254 volunteers is valued at $15,900.  As a group they collected 7,200 more pounds of garbage than in 2009.  The first 200 volunteers received a t-shirt and water bottle in appreciation for their participation.  Event organizers want to thank everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this year’s event.

The Conasauga Watershed Clean-up has been a part of Rivers Alive, a statewide campaign to clean and preserve over 70,000 miles of Georgia’s rivers and streams, for sixteen years.  Rivers Alive continues to be the State’s and one of the South’s largest volunteer efforts to beautify water resources.  As of the beginning of November, 15,303 volunteers participated 138 clean-up events through out the state this year.  Together they have collected 233,717 pounds of garbage from Georgia waterways.

For additional information about this year’s event, please contact John Lugthart at jlugthart@daltonstate.edu or call 706-272-2485.  For more information about efforts in other areas or the statewide campaign, call 404-675-6240 or go to www.RiversAlive.org.

This year’s Funding Sponsors included Shaw Industries, Dalton Utilities, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Conasauga River Alliance (CRA).

Coordinators for 2010 included the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI), Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, Dalton State College, Dalton Utilities, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, and Murray & Whitfield County Extension.

Supporters of the statewide campaign include Georgia Adopt-A-Stream and Project WET, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division, Keep Georgia Beautiful, and Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

16th Annual Conasauga Watershed Clean-up

DALTON, GA - Residents of Whitfield and Murray Counties are encouraged to help clean-up the Conasauga River during the United Way of Northwest Georgia’s “Make a Difference Day” on Saturday, October 23rd from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The Conasauga Watershed Clean-up has been a part of Rivers Alive, a statewide campaign to clean and preserve over 70,000 miles of Georgia’s rivers and streams, for sixteen years.

Six locations through out Whitfield and Murray counties have been selected as clean-up sites:

1. Conasauga River at Lower King’s Bridge/Norton Bridge

2. Conasauga River at Highway 2 bridge

3. Conasauga River at Carlton Petty Road bridge

4. Holly Creek, Murray County, on the Chattahoochee National Forest

5. Mill Creek tributary in the City of Dalton

6. Coahulla Creek at Prater’s Mill

Those interested in volunteering should arrive at their desired clean-up location the day of the event a few minutes before 9:00 am to register. At least the first 200 volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and stainless steel water bottle in appreciation for their participation. Volunteers should dress appropriately. Sturdy shoes or boots, gloves, long pants, and long sleeved shirts are recommended. Hip or chest waders are useful, but are not required. Trash bags and other clean up supplies will be provided.

To download the event flyer with directions or the volunteer waiver, visit www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org. For additional information, please contact John Lugthart at jlugthart@daltonstate.edu or call 706-272-2485. For more information about efforts in other areas or the statewide campaign, call 404-675-6240 or go to www.RiversAlive.org.

Local Sponsors include Shaw Industries, Dalton Utilities, Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority (DWSWA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Conasauga River Alliance (CRA).

Coordinators include the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI), CRA, Dalton State College, Dalton Utilities, DWSWA, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, TNC and Murray & Whitfield County Extension.

Supporters of the statewide campaign include Georgia Adopt-A-Stream and Project WET, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division, Keep Georgia Beautiful, and Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

During the 2009 river cleanup 26,000 volunteers cleaned over 2,150 miles of waterways and removed over 476 tons of trash and garbage including tires, shingles, balls and washing machines from Georgia’s waterways, according to Harold Harbert, Outreach Coordinator with the Environmental Protection Division. Harbert expects Rivers Alive 2010 to involve thousands more volunteers and to continue to be the State’s and one of the South’s largest volunteer efforts to beautify water resources.

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful Has Successful Spring

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, a local Keep America Beautiful affiliate, held several Great American Cleanup activities during the months of March, April and May. The 2010 Great American Cleanup, a national campaign organized by nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, estimated that three million volunteers participated nationwide.

The national 2010 theme, “Green Starts Here,” encourages volunteer groups, community leaders and people of all ages and walks of life to begin creating more sustainable communities through their efforts as volunteers and through their daily choices and actions. It also reflects Keep America Beautiful’s legacy of community improvement activities.

Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful events included Community Pride Day, Valley Point Ruritan Club Park Cleanup and Adopt-a-Mile cleanups. Participants in Adopt a Mile included Textile Rubber & Chemical, Whitfield Co. 4-H, Styron LLC (formerly Dow Chemical) and the Mayo Family. Several recycling education sessions and a backyard composting session were held with the support of the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. 

This year KDWB logged the participation of 144 volunteers with a total of 539 volunteer hours of work valued at $11,000. Over 73,660 pounds of litter, debris and bulky waste were collected in the city of Dalton and Whitfield County. Nine miles of road and three acres of parks were cleaned through the efforts of the volunteers. An estimated 610 people attended educational sessions, and over 1,028 residents participated in the variety of events. 

Liz Swafford, executive director of Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, said, “We would like to thank our national sponsors, Nestlé, Pure Life, Purified Water and the Glad Products Company who supported our events during the Great American Cleanup by providing generous donations of their products. The bottled water and trash bags facilitated several of our local events. Those ranged from litter cleanups to educational sessions about reusing and recycling.” 

The largest event was Community Pride Day during the Great American Cleanup that took place April 18 at the Old Dixie Landfill and Convenience Center, Westside Middle School, North Whitfield Middle School and Eastbrook Middle School. Approximately 577 residents of Whitfield County visited the locations to drop off their bulky waste for disposal and electronics for recycling with no fees. 34.2 tons or 68,400 pounds of bulky waste were disposed of, and 7.3 tons or 14,600 pounds of electronics were collected for recycling. 

“Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful would like to thank the 51 volunteers and staff from KDWB, Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, and Whitfield County Public Works for making this event possible,” said Ms. Swafford. 

Disposal of bulky items is available year round with no fees at the Old Dixie Landfill and Convenience Center. The same location hosts a drop-off box for recycling electronics (a fee for televisions applies). For more information please visit www.DWSWA.org or call (706)278-5001.

Visit www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org or call (706)226-6211 to find out more.