Paper recycling in place at every school

 Staff Photo by Tim Barber:

Michael Foxx, right, Recycling Center operations manager at the Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, punctures a plastic bottle as Matthew Ryerson, 3, and North Whitfield Middle School teacher Jill Ryerson listen for air to be released at recent open house.

By Kelly Jackson
Chattanooga Times Dalton Bureau

DALTON, Ga. -- Recyclin' Ben is becoming more popular in Whitfield County, Dalton and area private schools.

Last November, the improved mascot showed up on the side of a new recycling truck bought by Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Management Authority. This year, the authority started picking up mixed-paper recycling at every school in the county, so Ben's getting out and about more than ever.

"We were able to set it up to be a rolling billboard," said Norman Barashick, executive director of the authority.

On Thursday, the authority held an open house to introduce parents, teachers and students to its "Target Recycling" program and other educational programs available for students, including tours at the facility.

Residents who attended the open house had the opportunity to tour the authority's Materials Recovery Facility, nicknamed the "Murf." Mr. Baraschick said the 40,000-square-foot recycling operation opened in 2001.

"Our programs have continued to expand," he said.

Cassie Gallman, a fifth-grade student at New Hope Elementary School, attended the open house and said she's happy to have recycling in her school "because it helps the ecosystem."

Shayla Byrd, a third grader at New Hope, said she was impressed to see all the different materials made from recyclables at the center. She was especially impressed by the bathroom tile made out of recycled toilet seats.

Harvey Levitt, operations manager for the authority, said the agnecy already was picking up recycling at about 25 percent of schools, but county-wide school recycling is "a new program."

"We are in 30 some-odd schools and the 30 schools accommodate 20,000 students," he said.

The authority has implemented a competition and will award schools that have the most recycling per student. A top recycling school will be recognized three times throughout the year, he said, while the top three recycling schools will be recognized on an annual basis.

The authority has worked to have recycling in schools throughout the county for a number of years, he said, but only recently had the $400,000 needed to purchase the new truck and more than 200 containers for all the schools.

To pay for the truck, the authority used a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers program in which developers buy credits to offset any negative environmental impact from their developments.

Money from those credits paid for the recycling truck, Mr. Barashick said.

Dalton recycle efforts soar

By Kevin Cummings
Chattanooga Times Dalton Bureau

DALTON, Ga. — Dalton's leaders say great strides have been made in curbside recycling and there is more progress to come.

Bridget Sanford, recycling coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, said residents' curbside recycling increased by 50 percent from 2007 to 2008.

“If you recycle, talk to your neighbor who doesn't. Tell them how easy it is. Tell them how much more room there is in your garbage can,” she said. “If you're a resident who is actively recycling, keep up the good work and thank you.”

Benny Dunn, Public Works director, and City Councilwoman Denise Wood, a member of the solid waste authority, both said they are also urging residents to recycle.

According to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, at least 30 percent of all household garbage is recyclable.

Curbside recycling also saves money, Mrs. Sanford said.

Last year the city reduced expenses by more than $23,072 in avoided disposal fees and saved more than 1,490 cubic yards of landfill space.

Additionally, Dalton earned more than $26,880 in shared revenue from the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, which processes and markets the recycled materials.

BY THE NUMBERS

598: Tons of curbside recyclables collected in 2007

896: Tons collected in 2008

1,625: Additional blue recycling bins distributed to residents in 2008

10,659: Trees saved in 2008 by mixed paper recycling

Source: Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Management Authority

CURBSIDE RECYCLING

To receive a blue residential recycling bin in the city of Dalton call Public Works at 706-278-7077. Bins are free to city residents. Recyclable materials include mixed paper, cardboard, newspapers, magazines, plastic bottles (No. 1 & 2), glass bottles and jars, bi-metal cans and aluminum cans.

City celebrates recycling increase

Submitted by the Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Management Authority 
Daily Citizen News

In 2008, Mayor David Pennington challenged city residents to increase the amount of curbside recycling. Dalton residents rose to the challenge by increasing curbside recycling efforts by 50 percent — from 598 tons in 2007 to 896 tons in 2008. 

In 2008, the Dalton public works department distributed an additional 1,625 blue recycling bins to residents. Benny Dunn, public works director, and City Councilwoman Denise Wood remind residents to do their part, get a bin, fill it up and put it by the curb to be picked up. If you recycle, talk to your neighbor who doesn’t. Tell them how easy it is. Tell them how much more room there is in your garbage can. If you’re a resident who is actively recycling, keep up the good work and thank you.

While a 50 percent increase in curbside recycling is notable, there is still room for improvement. According to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, at least 30 percent of all household garbage is recyclable. 

The benefits of curbside recycling are tangible and immediate. Last year alone, the city reduced expenses by more than $23,072 in avoided disposal fees and saved more than 1,490 cubic yards of landfill space. Additionally, the city earned more than $26,880 in shared revenue from the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, which processes and markets the recycled materials.

Residents of Dalton recycled more than 627 tons of mixed paper in 2008, which saved more than 10,659 trees. The 4.5 tons of aluminum cans recycled by Dalton residents in 2008 saved the energy equivalent of 14,063 gallons of gasoline or 3 kilowatt hours of electricity. 

Curbside recycling is important — for the environment and for the city budget. If you’re a city resident and you don’t have a blue recycling bin, please contact public works at (706) 278-7077. Bins are available to city residents free of charge. Materials which may be recycled include mixed paper, cardboard, newspapers, magazines, plastic bottles (No. 1 & 2), glass bottles and jars, bi-metal cans and aluminum cans.

'E-waste' recycling Saturday in Dalton

Staff member at the recycling center loads a monitor into a gaylord box for electronic waste recycling collection.

By Charles Oliver
Daily Citizen News

Toss out that broken mouse in your desk drawer. Throw away that old printer you haven’t used in years.

The Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Authority, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful and Atlanta Recycling Solutions are hosting an “e-waste” recycling event on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Home Depot parking lot off Shugart Road.

“We’ve had a big increase in people calling wanting to recycle their old electronics, so we are really doing this at the citizens’ request,” said Bridget Sanford, director of recycling programs for the solid waste authority.

Residents can bring old computers, fax machines, telephones, video games, copiers, digital cameras, VCRs, shredders, microwaves, calculators and other electronics and drop them off free of charge for recycling.

They can also bring TVs, but there will be a $10 charge to take those. Sanford said that’s the fee charged by the company that recycles electronics for the solid waste authority.

“That’s the only thing we have to charge for. TVs, there just isn’t enough recyclable material in there,” Sanford said.

Residents are asked not to bring smoke detectors, household appliances and car batteries.

If you can’t make it Saturday, don’t worry. Recyclable electronics can be dropped off Monday through Friday at the solid waste authority’s recycling center at 4189 Old Dixie Highway. Again, there’s no charge for computers and such, but there’s a $10 charge for old TVs.

Dalton: Schools embrace recycling

 STAFF PHOTO BY KEVIN CUMMINGS:

Southeast High School special education students put cardboard and paper in the school's recycling bins. Special ed teachers at Southeast use recycling to teach job skills and environmental awareness.

By Kevin Cummings
Chattanooga Times Dalton Bureau

DALTON, Ga. — In the halls and offices of Southeast Whitfield High School, trees are protected from the chainsaw.

No trees actually stand within the school’s interior, but plenty of recycling boxes and cans for paper, plastic and aluminum are scattered through the building. Students deposit the recyclables and special education students pick the materials up and sort them twice a day.

Since the school started its “Raider Recycle” program in 2004 under educators Tom Brown and Rhonda Kelley, the school has saved 813 trees, according to the Dalton Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, which partners with Whitfield County schools to encourage recycling.

Last week, in conjunction with America Recycles Day on Wednesday, the Solid Waste Authority honored four local schools for recycling more than 109,000 pounds in 2007-08 school year: Dawnville Elementary and Southeast, Northwest and Dalton high schools.

“This program is very special to me, as I believe that to get the community to recycle, we must first start with the children,” said Bridget Sanford, Solid Waste Authority recycling coordinator.

Special education teachers Lorie Harden and Kevin Kettenring said the 24 students who participate in the collection of the recyclables learn a job skill, too.

“We do it as a job-readiness skill,” Mrs. Harden said. “Most industries recycle and we teach them about sorting and how to properly prepare something to be recycled.”

Mr. Kettenring said he’d like to see more schools in the county participate in an outlined recycling program.

“When you think of all the paper and waste products that come out of 600 or 700 people under one roof, it just makes sense,” he said.