Target Recycling Recognized as Outstanding Recycling Program for 2010

Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority Honored by the Georgia Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)

Pictured are Norman Barashick, Jeff Cown, and Harvey Levitt.  Cown presented the award for Outstanding Recycling Program to the DWSWA during the SWANA-GA Fall Conference.

DALTON, GA – The Georgia Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) recognized outstanding solid waste programs throughout the state during its SWANA-GA Chapter Fall Conference in November 2010. First place in the Outstanding Recycling Programs category was awarded to the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority for it’s program called Target Recycling. SWANA-GA Board member Jeff Cown presented Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority representatives Norman Barashick and Harvey Levitt with the award during a special reception during the Fall Conference.

Target Recycling is a collection program that provides a free recycling infrastructure to over 160 local schools and businesses in Whitfield County. More than 2,000,000 pounds of targeted materials will be sent to Georgia industries to be recycled in 2010. Since November 2008 Target Recycling and its mascot Recycling Ben have made recycling more accessible in Whitfield County by targeting specific commodities and providing free pickup. 

Recyclables accepted include plastic bottles and jugs (nos.1 & 2), aluminum cans, cardboard, and mixed paper.  Target Recycling also provides educational opportunities for the community and hosts a recycling contest among local schools during each school year.

For more information about the recycling program visit www.DWSWA.org or call 706-278-5001.

“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.

New Hope Middle awarded recycling cart

DALTON — Recycling Ben, mascot for the Target Recycling program, presented the seventh-grade class at New Hope Middle School an award for having the highest recycling rate during the second quarter of the 2009-2010 school year.

The award chosen by school staff is a two-level cart to help collect recycling bins from classrooms and offices. Cheering students had the opportunity to also win Recycling Ben hats and T-shirts by naming items that are recyclable. Thanks to the efforts of local teacher Janet Crumley and an enthusiastic team of seventh-graders, New Hope Middle School practically doubled their initial recycling rate of 5.5 pounds per student during the first quarter of the school year to an amazing 10.5 pounds per student during the second quarter of the school year.  

Target Recycling is a recycling program managed by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority that includes educational opportunities and recognition of participation for city of Dalton and Whitfield County schools. Since fall 2008, local schools have hosted Target Recycling containers where they collected mixed paper products like cardboard, paper, office paper, books, cereal boxes, magazines and newspapers. Each quarter the school with the highest recycling rate receives a custom award that will help improve the recycling program or beautify its campus. Awards include items like recycling bins for classrooms or benches made from recycled materials.  

To improve the recycling rate at your school, contact Liz Swafford, recycling and education program coordinator, at (706) 278-5001 or e-mail lswafford@dwswa.org.

Resolution to Go Green

Published in the issue's Go Green page. ChamberLink January 2010.

You have decided to go green this year and made a New Year’s resolution filled with good intentions.   To make your green resolution a reality, here’s a short guide to help you get started.

Choose to Reuse:

We live in a society that encourages disposal, everything from baby diapers to Styrofoam coffee cups are thrown away after just one use.

Unfortunately Styrofoam is very difficult to recycle.  If you use a Styrofoam coffee cup every day at the office, in just one year you use and throw away 260 cups or more.  If you want to go green and reduce the amount of trash you produce during the year, you can switch to a coffee mug.   You will need only one for the whole year.   Reusing something so simple can cause a large impact over time.

Choose to Recycle at Home and Work:

Recycling is environmentally friendly because it allows for a more efficient and wise use of natural resources.  Instead of cutting down trees to make new paper, old paper is collected and recycled to create more paper.   The majority of products you encounter every day are recyclable.  Plastic, cardboard, paper, glass, and aluminum can all be recycled in the Dalton-Whitfield area.   To begin you will need a separate container for recyclables, such as a recycling bin or a clearly marked trash can.

Many residents of the City of Dalton already have a blue curbside recycling bin that is used for all recyclables.  These are separated at the curb when they are picked up by Public Works.  If you live in the City of Dalton, the Department of Public Works may already be offering Residential Curbside Recycling in your neighborhood.  For more details, call 706-278-7077 or visit the City of Dalton’s website and go to the Public Works section http://www.cityofdalton-ga.gov.

However, if you don’t have service in your area you need to separate your recyclables yourself before dropping them off at a Convenience Center like the Old Dixie Landfill.   The main categories are Plastic (#1, #2), Cardboard, Mixed Paper, Glass, and Aluminum.  You can drop-off your recyclables at any one of four Convenience Centers operated by the Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Authority (DWSWA).

If you have a business in the City of Dalton or Whitfield County you may qualify for the Target Recycling program offered by the DWSWA.  This program can help your business recycle paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum products by setting up a collection site for your whole building.  For more information on the Convenience Centers or the Target Recycling program call 706-278-5001 or visit their website http://www.dwswa.org.

It’s easier than ever to go green in Dalton-Whitfield.  Here’s to a greener you and greener New Year!

Liz Swafford is the Executive Director of Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful and the Recycling and Education Program Coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Authority (www.DWSWA.org).  Contact her by e-mail at: lswafford@dwswa.org or call 706-278-5001.

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.