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.

Christmas Holiday Hours of Operation

Landfill and Convenience Centers announce holiday hours for December 2010

DALTON, GA – The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority announced its Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Holiday Operating Schedules for the Landfill and Convenience Centers. In observance of the Christmas holiday, all locations will be open for half a day from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm on Friday, December 24th and closed on Saturday, December 25th. Normal operating schedule will resume on Monday, December 27th.  Locations include the Old Dixie Landfill & Convenience Center, McGaughey Chapel Convenience Center, Westside Convenience Center, and the M.L. King Convenience Center. For more information call 706-277-2545.

Christmas Holiday Operating Schedule for the Landfill and Convenience Centers

• Friday, December 24, 2010

All Locations OPEN Half-Day - 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Christmas Eve 

• Saturday, December 25, 2010

All Locations CLOSED – Christmas Day 

• Monday, December 27, 2010

Resume Normal Operating Days and Hours All Locations OPEN – 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Recycling Ben's Bins is CLOSED

Thank you for your interest in receiving a free recycling bin through our program Recycling Ben's Bins. There was a limited supply of 100 bins available for this month and we have exhausted the supply. The Recycling Ben's Bins program is now closed and no longer accepting registrations.

Please take a moment to subscribe to the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority's e-mail newsletter to be notified of when another recycling bin giveaway will take place. If you recycle or are interested in recycling at the Convenience Centers download the Recycling Guide for Whitfield County called "Stop Treating Us Like Garbage".

Keep in mind that recycling bins can take many forms, from repurposed trash cans, generic plastic bins, to reusable shopping bags and used cardboard boxes. We encourage you to separate your recyclables and drop them off at a Convenience Center near you. Recycling does make a difference.

“I Will Recycle” Artwork To Be Featured On Two Billboards

DALTON, GA – Dalton Middle School 7th grader, Esmeralda Perez, is the overall winner of the 2010 America Recycles Day Billboard Contest hosted by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s program Target Recycling. Her billboard artwork was chosen out of 203 entries from eight middle schools in Whitfield County. It simply states “I Will Recycle” and includes the America Recycles Day slogan, “I Recycle”. The design will be displayed for four weeks on two billboards in the Whitfield County area.

In addition to an overall winner, each grade also had a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner. 6th grade: 1st Place, Ryan Neal, North Whitfield Middle School, 2nd Place, Vy Huynh, Dalton Middle School, 3rd Place, Victor Chavarria, Dalton Middle School. 7th grade: 1st Place, Esmeralda Perez, Dalton Middle School, 2nd Place MyKayla Hicks, North Whitfield Middle School, 3rd Place, Grace Wiggins, North Whitfield Middle School. 8th grade: 1st Place, Brianna Giron, Eastbrook Middle School, 2nd Place, Carrie Carlton, Dalton Middle School, 3rd Place, Axel Aguila, New Hope Middle School. The nine students received goodie bags and a certificate of participation from DWSWA staff. Their entries can be seen online at www.DWSWA.org.

Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator at the DWSWA, explained that America Recycles Day is celebrated every year on November 15th and encourages the public to make a pledge to recycle year round. “The new billboards are just part of a greater, ongoing educational campaign for recycling options in Whitfield County. Students should be commended for rising to the challenge of this contest. Designing for billboards is very different from creating a typical piece of artwork. Billboards are seen by people in moving vehicles and need to have a clear, concise message typically made up of six words or less.”

To learn how you can recycle too, visit www.DWSWA.org or contact Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator, at 706-278-5001 or e-mail: lswafford@dwswa.org.

Limited Number of Recycling Bins Available

DALTON, GA – Recycling Ben is giving away a limited number of 22-gallon recycling bins to qualifying residents in Whitfield County through a new program called Recycling Ben’s Bins [ Registration for this program is now closed. ]. One hundred recycling bins were obtained through a grant awarded by ALCOA and the Georgia Recycling Coalition (GRC) and for use at one of four Convenience Centers managed by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. Convenience Center locationsinclude the Old Dixie Landfill & Convenience Center in the south end of the county, Westside in Rocky Face, McGaughey Chapel in Cohutta, and M.L.King Blvd. in Dalton. Each one features a recycling and household garbage drop-off area among other services. 

Those interested in obtaining a free recycling bin through Recycling Ben’s Bins [ Registration for this program is now closed. ] should register online at www.DWSWA.org. Participants should already use a Convenience Center location to drop-off their household garbage or recyclables, have Internet access, a valid email address, and commit to answering a short recycling survey online once a month for one year to help gauge the impact of the grant. Each recycling bin includes a recycling guide, which details the types of materials accepted and how to prepare them for recycling. Those new to recycling are especially encouraged to register to obtain one of the remaining bins.

To register for Recycling Ben’s Bins visit visit www.DWSWA.org. For recycling information contact Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator, at 706-278-5001 or e-mail: lswafford@dwswa.org.