2013 Billboard Design Contest Winner Announced

“I Recycle. Do You?” is the overall winner for this year’s America Recycles Day Billboard contest.  The design was created by Dalton Middle School 7th grader Larissa Hernandez.

(Dalton, GA, November 19, 2013) –  Dalton Middle School 7th grader, Larissa Hernandez, is the overall winner of the 2013 America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest hosted by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority’s program Target Recycling at School. 

The design chosen out of 265 entries includes the phrase, “I Recycle. Do You?” which was one of the themes of the contest.  The artwork is eye catching and very colorful with multicolored blocks of letters, and a recycling symbol.

The winning design will be displayed on two billboards in the Whitfield County area for at least one month.  This is the fourth year of the design contest open to Whitfield County middle school students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade attending either a public or private school that recycles with Target Recycling at School.

The billboard design contest had a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner from each grade level.  The nine students, listed below, received a certificate of participation and a gift bag with items made from recycled materials.  The first place overall was selected from the first place design from each grade level.

6th grade:

• 1st Place – Alexis Lynch, Dalton Middle School
• 2nd Place – Nubia Loya, Eastbrook Middle School
• 3rd Place – Jenny Jimenez, Eastbrook Middle School 

7th grade:

• 1st Place and Overall Winner – Larissa Hernandez, Dalton Middle School
• 2nd Place – Laisha Rubio, Eastbrook Middle School
• 3rd Place – Gisselle Cisneros, Dalton Middle School 

8th grade:

• 1st Place – Mackenzie McDermott, Eastbrook Middle School
• 2nd Place – Angelina Calderon, Eastbrook Middle School
• 3rd Place – Elena Leyssens, Dalton Middle School

America Recycles Day is a community-driven event dedicated to promoting recycling awareness, commitment, and action in the U.S. thru its partnership with Keep America Beautiful.  For more information on recycling, and to take the pledge to recycle visit www.AmericaRecyclesDay.org.   

Target Recycling at School provides recycling collection services and environmental education opportunities to schools in Whitfield County.  For more information call 706-278-5001 or visit the Environmental Education page.

Correction:  Ms. McDermott was incorrectly listed in the 8th grade category.  However, since prizes have been given and results announced, there will be no changes in the winners for this year.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Dalton Middle School students that placed in the billboard contest are pictured with their artwork.  From Left to Right: Alexis Lynch, Elena Leyssens, Gisselle Cisneros, and Larissa Hernandez. 

Eastbrook Middle School students who placed in the billboard contest are pictured with their artwork.  From Left to Right: Mackenzie McDermott, Laisha Rubio, Jenny Jimenez, Nubia Loya, and Angelina Calderon.

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours of Operation - 2013

DALTON, GA – The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority announced its Thanksgiving Day Holiday Operating Schedules for Landfill and Convenience Centers.  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.

Thanksgiving Day Holiday Operating Schedules for Landfill and Convenience Centers

• Wednesday, November 27, 2013 – All Locations OPEN – EARLY CLOSING:

7:00 AM to 3:00 PM  (McGaughey       Chapel Normally Closed)

• Thursday, November 28, 2013 – All Locations CLOSED – Thanksgiving Day

• Friday, November 29, 2013 – All Locations OPEN – 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Resume Normal Schedule)

• Saturday, November 30, 2013 – All Locations OPEN – 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Community Planting Day On November 16

Volunteers are invited to plant native trees at Brookwood Elementary’s playground on Saturday, November 16 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am during Community Planting Day.  The trees will provide much needed shade for students at the school in Dalton, GA.

This event, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia and Dalton Utilities, is in celebration of National Planting Day.  This is an initiative of Keep America Beautiful to plant native plants, trees, and shrubs to enhance biodiversity, and protect wildlife in local communities.

Pre-registration for volunteers is not required. Participants should wear close toe shoes, and weather appropriate clothes.  The majority of tools and supplies will be provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own shovel if possible.

Special thanks to the following event organizers: Dalton Tree Board, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, and Whitfield County 4-H.  Click here to download the event flier, or call 706-226-6211 for more information.

Elizabeth Swafford Earns ATEEG Distinction

Elizabeth Swafford has been certified as an Environmental Educator thru the nationally accredited professional development program Advanced Training for Environmental Education in Georgia.

(Dalton, GA, October 27, 2013) –  Elizabeth Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, and Executive Director of Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, has earned the distinction of Certified Environmental Educator.  After completing a rigorous two and a half year study she received one of the first certifications for ATEEG, Advanced Training for Environmental Education in Georgia.  This professional certification program is offered by the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, and the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia.

Swafford was recognized at the 2013 Environmental Education Alliance’s Annual Conference in March along with other educators who successfully completed the program, which is nationally accredited by the North American Association for Environmental Education.  The ATEEG certification required 30 hours of specialization workshops, completing three core courses, and an independent study project.  The courses focused on the foundations of environmental education, fostering learning, and assessment and evaluation.

This certification is of benefit to educators in the state who want to be recognized as a leader in the field of environmental education and gain credibility for the profession that is reflected in various career paths.  Educators can range from those in formal settings, such as a science teacher in a public school, to those working in non-formal educational settings like a nature center.  Swafford is a non-formal educator who teaches local students about recycling, the landfill, and other environmental topics through her work at the DWSWA and KDWB.

Swafford’s independent study project, Recycling Ben’s Sidekick Training, was designed to train third graders to become recycling superheroes.  During the special 4 hour program students made upcycled name tags, toured the landfill and recycling center in Whitfield County, made an edible model of a landfill, completed a recycling relay race, and met mascot Recycling Ben.  The project included all aspects of the ATEEG program, including components for assessment and evaluation. The special training is now part of the regular educational opportunities offered at the facility.

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.