“I Will Recycle” Billboard is Live

2010 America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Design Winner Featured

DALTON, GA – Two billboards in Whitfield County now feature the winning artwork from the first 2010 America Recycles Day Billboard Contest hosted by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s program Target Recycling at School.  On America Recycles Day, November 15, the winning design chosen from over 200 entries from middle school students was announced to the public.  Esmeralda Perez, Dalton Middle School 7th grader, won first place overall with her billboard artwork that simply states, “I Will Recycle” and includes the America Recycles Day slogan, “I Recycle”.

Her colorful design is featured on two billboards that will be live until the end of the year.  The final design also invites the public to learn how they can recycle by calling 706-278-5001 or visiting www.DWSWA.org online.  The first billboard is located on Walnut Ave. in Dalton next to Walnut Square Mall, and the second billboard is on Chattanooga Rd. in Rocky Face near Tijuana’s Mexican Restaurant.

“It was a joy to see the environmentally friendly spirit of middle school students in the Dalton-Whitfield community shining through the contest entries.” said Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator at the DWSWA.  “I’d like to thank the teachers and students from our local middle schools for participating and making this first billboard contest a big success.  We look forward to hosting this contest again for America Recycles Day 2011.”

In addition to the overall winner, each middle school 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, 3rdPlace, 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.

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.

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.