4th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Announced

The 4th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest is underway.  Pictured is the winning design of 2012 designed by Brisa Mandujano, an 8th grader from Eastbrook Middle School.

Middle Schoolers Invited to Participate

(Dalton, GA, October 2, 2013) –  The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is pleased to announce it’s 4th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that attend either 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 for four weeks on two billboards.

During the 2012 contest, Eastbrook Middle School 8th grader, Brisa Mandujano, won first place overall.  Her artwork, chosen out of 193 entries includes the phrase, “Recycle, it’s the natural thing to do” which was the theme for America Recycles Day 2011.  It features a group of students passing recyclable items, like bottles and cans, to each other and placing them in a green recycling bin.   

Themes for this year include, “Let’s Target Recycling Together”, “I Recycle. Do You?”, and “Recycle, it’s the natural thing to do.”  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.  

Click here to download the Contest Guide with an entry form.  Deadline for entries is Wednesday, November 6, 2013.  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 Thursday, November 14. 

For more information contact Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator, at 706-278-5001 or e-mail: lswafford@dwswa.org.  To learn more about America Recycles Day visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

Eek-o-Friendly Costume Swap on October 19

 Exchange last year’s costume for one that’s new to you!

(Dalton, GA, October 11, 2013) –  Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful invites you to swap your clean, gently-used Halloween costume for one that’s new to you at the Eek-o-Friendly Costume Swap.  It will take place on Saturday, October 19 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Gaston Community Center in Dalton.  Stop by to “recycle” your costume, and learn new ways to make your Halloween more eco-friendly.

In the spirit of National Costume Swap Day™, volunteers will be accepting family friendly costumes for babies, children, adults, and pets.  A costume to swap is required for admission to the costume area.  The event will be set up in meeting rooms C and D, which are at the far left side of the building.  Costume donations will be accepted during the event for those that do not need to swap but want to put their old costumes to good use.

During the event visitors, with and without costumes to swap, can visit the booths with information about making your Halloween greener.  Topics include zapping energy vampires in your home, how to choose better treats and treasures, and more.

For more event information visit www.keepdaltonwhitfieldbeautiful.org, https://www.facebook.com/events/1386097834954445/, or call 706-278-5001.

19th Annual Conasauga Watershed Clean-up on October 26

Be a part of the tradition on Saturday, October 26 when you join other volunteers in cleaning up the Conasauga Watershed.  Registration opens at 9:00 am at each of the seven clean up sites located in Whitfield County and Murray County.  Choose a site and enjoy some muddy merriment as you help care for our area’s beautiful streams and river! 

This year’s clean-up will take place at seven locations:

1. Conasauga River at Carlton Petty Road bridge

2. Conasauga River at Highway 2 bridge

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

7. Lakeshore Park in the City of Dalton

The 19th Annual Conasauga Watershed Clean-up is held in conjunction with Northwest Georgia United Way’s Make A Difference Day and Georgia’s Annual Waterway Clean-Up, Rivers Alive.  The first 250 volunteers will receive a free shirt, and a hat or reusable water bottle.

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 supplies will be provided. 

One of the six most biologically diverse freshwater river systems in the United States, the Conasauga River 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.

SPONSORS:    Shaw Industries, J&J Industries, Dalton Utilities, Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Management Authority (DWRSWMA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Conasauga River Alliance (CRA).

COORDINATORS:  Carpet & Rug Institute, CRA, Dalton State College, Dalton Utilities, DWRSWMA, Keep Chatsworth-Murray Beautiful, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, Limestone Valley RC & D, TNC, and Murray County Extension.

For additional information, please contact John Lugthart at jlugthart@daltonstate.edu, or 706-272-2485.   Click here to download the event flier with directions.

Join and share this event on Facebook thru Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful's event listing.

Landfill, Convenience Centers Closed on Labor Day

DALTON, GA – Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority facilities will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2013 in observance of Labor Day.  Locations include the Old Dixie Landfill & Convenience Center, McGaughey Chapel Convenience Center, Westside Convenience Center, and the M.L. King Convenience Center.  

All locations will reopen on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. 

For more information call 706-277-2545.

Labor Day Holiday Schedule:

• Saturday, August 31, 2013 - All Locations Open - Normal Hours (7am – 3pm)
• Monday, September 2, 2013 – All Locations Closed
• Tuesday, September 3, 2013 – All Locations Open (7am – 6pm)   (Westside Normally Closed)
• Wednesday, September 4, 2013 – Resume Normal Operating Days and Hours (McGaughey Chapel Closed)

Open House for Educators at Recycling Center Announced

DALTON, GA – Local educators are invited to visit the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s Recycling Center during its annual Open House for Educators on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 to find out what they have to offer their school.  The event has a flexible schedule allowing guests to come and go as they like between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm.  Educators from Whitfield County Public Schools, City of Dalton Public Schools, and private schools that participate in the Target Recycling at School program are specifically invited.  However, representatives from local home school groups, and other organizations that work with children, like Girl Scouts, are welcome to attend.

During the open house teachers and staff will receive an overview of the Target Recycling at School program, which provides recycling collection services to public and private schools in Whitfield County, an environmental education program, annual recycling contest, and other complimentary services to participating locations.  Visitors will also learn about setting up a recycling program for their school, and improving current recycling rates.

Guests will have the opportunity to tour the recycling center, and learn what happens to the things recycled at their school.  Several environmental education activities available for school visits and facility tours will be demonstrated.  Promo items, snacks, and educational materials, like coloring books, and posters will also be provided.  Reservations are requested but not required. 

The recycling center is located on the same property as the Old Dixie Hwy. Landfill and Convenience Center at the south end of the county at 4189 Old Dixie Hwy. in Dalton.  Directions are available online at www.dwswa.org/directions.  For more information, or to make a reservation call 706-278-5001 or e-mail: lswafford@dwswa.org.