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 America Recycles Day |
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Monday, October 23
2006 America Recycles Day
Poster Contest Underway -- ARC will give $25 and a t-shirt for the winning poster in each grade (pre-K thru 6).
Mulching Mower. ARC will draw pledge cards on November 15 for a mulching mower.
"How Can We Increase Recycling in Ada?" Essay Winners
In celebration of America Recycles Day, ARC is sponsored an essay contest for area High School students. $100 was awarded to Beth Nevland (Latta) for the winning essay and $50 was awarded to Katie Nixon and Mary Cruz (Ada) -- honorable mentions.
2005 Mulching Mower Winner!
The winner of this year’s America Recycles Day mulching mower was Camille Howard. Ms. Howard pledged to buy more recycled-content products (like recycled office paper) and to increase her recycling efforts at home and work. In addition, she will now be able to mulch her lawn clippings and leaves.
Pictured with Ms. Howard is Dr. Joe Braley, Trudy Nevland and John.
Composting is nature's way of recycling natural materials. The Ada Recycling Coalition encourages all citizens to "mulch" not bag their lawn clippings and leaves.
RECYCLE: "It's the Right Thing to Do"
ARC is also sponsoring a poster contest for area elementary school students. This year's theme is: RECYCLE: "It's the Right Thing to Do." $25 will be awarded to three (3) winning artists in grades: 1&2, 3&4 and 5&6. Students may submit posters individually or teachers may submit their favorites. DEADLINE: Fri, Nov 4, 2005 at 5 pm. Name, Grade, School and Telephone number on back of poster required.
Mail to: Trudy Nevland, 231 South Townsend, Ada, OK 74820.
GOOD LUCK!!!
America Recycles Day 2004
Mayor Darrell Nemecek proclaimed November 15, 2004 "America Recycles Day" in Ada this month during ARC's monthly meeting.
Accepting the proclamation is Garmon Smith, Chair, and Board Members Ellen Bussert and Dr. Phil Kaiser. Also pictured is Stan Fullingim and Dave Jones (City Recycling) Jack and Paul Bussert and Mary Stinson.
2004 Essay Contest
ARC sponsored an essay contest for area high school and Jr. high school students in celebration of America Recycles Day this year. The title was: REDUCE * REUSE * RECYCLE: "How to Reuse Items that are Too Often Thrown Away"
A 1st Place $100 prize was awarded to Daron Ellis (Senior Ada High) and Lashun Oakley (8th grade Latta Jr. High). In addition, four runners-up were awarded $50 each. They were: Jennifer Whitson (Junior Ada High) Stephanie Cannon (Senior Ada High) and Stephen Mapp and Ginna Hogue (Ada Jr. High).
 | | Jr. High Winners |
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
 |  | | Daron Ellis, Essay Winner | |
“How to Reuse Items That Are Too Often Thrown Away”
Recycling has proven to be beneficial to individuals, the environment, and communities by conserving natural resources, saving wildlife, preventing pollution and saving landfill space. There are many ways that individuals can reuse items that are too often thrown away. By reusing items, the waste stream is reduced and landfill space can be saved.
One way to help the recycling effort is to buy reusable products. Items such as coffee mugs, food storage containers and cloth napkins can be used time and time again, and will help to reduce the flow of trash going into the local landfills. Using refillable containers also helps with this effort. Individuals can buy “recharged” cartridges for printers and rechargeable batteries. These items will not only reduce the amount of waste, but also keep toxic metals out of the waste stream.
Many everyday items can be used in creative ways. Plastic milk jugs can be used to protect young garden plants such as tomatoes or pepper plants. Old bricks and timber can be used to line flowerbeds. Plastic bags can be taken back to stores and reused on shopping trips or they can be used to line small wastebaskets. Egg cartons, coffee cans, and used gift boxes can be donated to schools, churches, and day care centers for arts and crafts projects. Used newspapers and magazines can be donated to doctors’ offices, nursing homes, and libraries.
Peanut butter jars are excellent for storing nuts and bolts in a shop or garage or buttons and thumbtacks in the house. Butter tubs can be used again for storing leftover food. Empty coffee cans can be decorated and reused as flower pots or storage containers. Old clothing can be cut up for rags, made into doll clothes, rag rugs, or donated to a charity such as Salvation Army.
Another way to reuse items is to clean and repair items to extend their life. Regular maintenance on many mechanical items such as tools and lawn mowers can extend the life. This will save money as well as landfill space.
Consumers should avoid purchasing items that do not lend to the recycling effort. For example, plastic eating utensils and juice in boxes are products that should not be purchased on a regular basis. Consumers might consider renting or borrowing items that are used infrequently. This could include gardening tools, extra tables and chairs, or audio-visual equipment. This saves both money and natural resources.
It is now more important than ever to conserve natural resources, save wildlife, and prevent pollution. Citizens should be conscious of the environment and do their part to keep it in the best shape possible. Taking advantage of local recycling programs is a must. All citizens can join in the effort to make our communities and our world a better place to live by participating in the reuse and recycling of so many products, which will reduce the amount of waste.
By: Daron Ellis, Ada High Senior
2004 Poster Contest
ARC sponsored a Poster Contest for area elementary school students (Grades 1 thru 6) in celebration of American Recycles Day this year.
Three $25 prizes were awarded to the top artists. Posters were judged on originality, style and message.
This year's winners were: Colton Rankin (4th Grade Vanoss), Preston Hawkins (4th Grade Vanoss) and Marissa Prentice (5th Grade Allen).
2004 Mulching Mower Winner
Becky Butler was this year's Mulching Mower winner!
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!
Tuesday, November 25
2003 Mulching Mower Winner!
|  | | Garmon Smith presents Johnson with mower | |
Congratulations to ARC's 2003 America Recycles Day "mulching mower" winner Billy Johnson!
The Ada Recycling Coalition encourages all citizens to "mulch" not bag their lawn clippings and leaves.
Saturday, November 15
Mayor Proclaims America Recycles Day in Ada
Barbara Young, City Council member, Marie Wilson, ARC board member; Darrell Nemecek, Mayor; Stan Fullingim and James Davis, both of the City of Ada's Recycling Department.
 | | America Recycles Day |
Thursday, November 13
Weirick speaks to BPW
Dr. Doug Weirick spoke at today's Business & Professional Women's meeting regarding the benefits of recycling in Ada and America Recycles Day.
He encouraged BPW members to increase their recycling efforts at home, school, and work, to buy more recycled-content products (like office paper) and to mulch their lawn clippings and leaves.
He also distributed ARD pledge cards and bookmarks and OKRA pamphlets.
Monday, November 11
Miranda Ellis -- Winner of Essay Contest!
Miranda Ellis, Ada High School senior, is the first-place winner of this year's essay contest. Miranda earned a $100 savings bond. Runners up Kyle Colon, Latta sophomore, and Kristin Brimma, Vanoss freshman, both earned $50 savings bonds, compliments of the Ada Recycling Coalition.
"How Can I Encourage More Citizens in Ada to Recycle?" By: Miranda Ellis
The recycling program in Ada has made great progress over the past few years. In the last two years alone, recyclable material has continued to increase, which has in turn increased the revenue from the recycling program. These efforts have extended the life of the landfill and saved money for the city of Ada and its citizens. This has been a very positive impact for Ada and Pontotoc County. But there is room for improvement, and citizens need to be encouraged to recycle more. I would encourage citizens to recycle by explaining the simplicity, describing the savings, and setting a standard.
First of all, I would encourage citizens to recycle by explaining the simplicity of the recycling program. The simplicity of the recycling program in Ada is clear. The city has set up two convenient drop-off centers located at 326 E.12th and the corner of 6th and Stockton. Each center accepts paper, plastic, tin, aluminum, and cardboard and has clearly marked containers for each of the recyclable materials. To make it even easier, these centers are available to the public 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, which makes recycling a very simple effort. For added convenience, a third drop-off center will be added soon. Simplicity is extended to city businesses with free pick-up of cardboard and paper.
Secondly, I would encourage citizens to recycle by describing the savings of recycling. The savings of the recycling program are sure to encourage others to join in on the efforts. In 2002 alone, the city recycled close to 650 tons of material. This material generated revenue for the city and created savings in solid waste costs for the businesses that recycled these products. The revenue from recycled materials is returned to the city’s budget to fund the recycling program. More importantly, the recycled material created savings in landfill space, which is quite valuable. By recycling efforts, the life of the landfill will be extended considerably. It is estimated that 45 days of landfill life has been saved over the last 3 years from recycling efforts.
Lastly, I would encourage citizens to recycle by setting a standard of recycling. I would make a personal commitment to recycle as an encouragement to other citizens. Hopefully, by setting a personal standard, I would be able to encourage others to follow my example. At home, I would encourage family members, and at school, I would encourage teachers and students alike to recycle. By doing this, I might start a chain reaction that would make others begin to recycle.
Recycling efforts in Ponotoc County can be enhanced by citizens encouraging other citizens to recycle. Explaining the simplicity, describing the savings, and setting a standard for recycling are three ways that I would encourage citizens to recycle. Citizens would understand the importance of improving the recycling efforts in the city of Ada and be persuaded to participate. The positive impact of the recycling program would only become better with more citizens participating in the recycling program.
Friday, November 15
Ada Recycling Efforts are Paying Off
Mayor Bob Fennell declares November 15 "America Recycles Day in Ada" and presents Garmon Smith, ARC Chairman, with a proclamation. Also pictured is: Stan Fullingim, City of Ada Recycling Coordinator, and David Hendricks, Public Works Director.
Recycling efforts have positively impacted Ada in a number of ways, ranging from the environment to the pocketbook. In the past couple of years, the amount of recyclable material shipped from Ada has steadily increased, as has the revenue received from those materials. It’s been a win-win situation for the City of Ada, its businesses and its residents. “The recycling efforts of our residents have helped save a lot of space at the landfill,” said David Hathcoat, Ada city manager. “It’s always good when we can recycle instead of throw away. Extending the life of the city landfill is a benefit to everyone.” The City of Ada operates two recycling drop-off centers. The main center is located at 326 East 12th Street and a smaller center is located at the corner of 6th and Stockton. Both centers accept a variety of paper, plastic, tin, aluminum and cardboard. Just as important, both centers are accessible by residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A third recycling drop-off center is coming soon to the Ada Wal-Mart. Perhaps the greatest benefit of the recycling program is the free pick-up of cardboard and paper for city businesses.
The recycling program currently serves more than 100 business sites and recycling materials picked up at these sites generates more than two-thirds of annual recycled tonnage. The accessibility of the two drop-off centers is another reason the city has enjoyed a steady increase in recycling activity. From January through March of 2001, the city recycled roughly 93 tons of material. From April through June of 2002, the city recycled approximately 248 tons. From July through September 2002, tonnage recycled reached 299 tons. Any person who has ever recycled aluminum cans knows that there is money to be made in the transaction. Recyclable materials generate revenue for the city as well. The more materials recycled, the greater the return in revenue. Not only that, those businesses that recycle cut down on their solid waste costs. That money returns to the Ada Public Works Authority budget, which is responsible for the city’s recycling program.
Although recycling activity is strong within the city, there is still so much more that can be done. A recent study of the city’s landfill revealed a remaining lifespan of between 11½ and 12 years. In terms of a landfill’s life, that’s not much time. The city is already considering its solid waste options for the future. At some point, a new landfill may have to be built; or more space might be added at the current landfill. The city might also consider a transfer station--a place to temporarily house its garbage before sending it on to a regional landfill.
Any option will come with a significant price tag. That’s yet one more reason it’s so important to recycle. As recycling increases, the amount of garbage bound for the landfill decreases possibly adding months or even years to the landfill’s lifespan. If each household made efforts to recycle, the amount of space saved at the landfill would increase dramatically. If each citizen recycled just five pounds per week, it would equal the weight that a City of Ada garbage truck hauls in a typical week. At the same time, the amount of solid waste would be greatly reduced, keeping garbage service costs down.
It’s simple, really. Recycling saves the environment and generates revenue. Throwing recyclable items away harms the environment and costs money. With that in mind, the City of Ada and the Ada Recycling Coalition issues their first recycling report in today’s edition of the Ada Evening News. The report will serve several purposes: it will encourage recycling, keep an eye on landfill space and point to recycling-minded people and activities in the community. Look for it every Sunday.
By: Mark Bratcher, City of Ada, Public Information Officer.
Wednesday, November 5
America Recycles Day -- Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor:
The Ada Recycling Coalition (ARC) would like to extent to the citizens of Ada a happy “America Recycles Day,” which is celebrated each year on November 15th. America Recycles Day is a national all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which sponsors this annual campaign with the goal of educating and encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products. Since its inception seven years ago, the America Recycles Day campaign has grown substantially in participation and now encourages recycling activities throughout the U.S. and several territories. Last year residents in every state of the nation participated in America Recycles Day and pledged to recycle. We also encourage everyone locally to buy more recycled-content products (like recycled office paper), increase recycling efforts at home, school and work and to mulch or compost (not bag) their lawn clippings and leaves. As you buy products that are made of recycled materials you encourage the growth of additional markets for recycled items and the establishment of new industries that can process these items into new products. Both our economy and our environment are improved through your recycling efforts.
On November 14 ARC will conduct a local drawing for a mulching lawn mower to celebrate America Recycles Day. Good luck to those who pledge to recycle more.
Sincerely,
Garmon Smith, Chair
Ada Recycling Coalition
Thursday, November 15
America Recycles Day
|  | | Randy McFarlin -- 2001 Winner | |
Each year ARC celebrates America Recycles Day by collecting pledge cards for a local drawing for a "mulching" lawn mower to promote "mulching" over bagging yard waste. Randy McFarlin was this year's winner of the mulching mower!
There are many reasons to mulch lawn clippings and leaves. One, it's very beneficial to your yard and garden, and two, yard waste takes up a tremendous amount of valuable landfill space.
In addition to the mower, ARC gave away 15 Earth Day T-shirts. Our T-shirt winners were: Dana Belcher, Jason Pryor, Emilea Stephens, Gene Poorman, Janet Alexander, De'Ambra Hensley, Karin Nuner, Debbie Hodo, Sabrina Scroggins, Brook McKee, Micah Mackey, Joe Catalano, Felisa Hudson, Shawna Dobbins and Robert Hayes.
Congratulations to all!
If you have questions regarding mulching your lawn, call the OSU Extension Center (1700 N. Broadway, Ada) 580-332-2153.
To see past "mulching" mower winners, check "Albums."
 | | Click here to see President Bush's 2001 Proclamation |
1999 Mulching Mower Winners
Tom and Kathy Akins were the lucky winners of ARC's annual "mulching" mower give-away in 1999.
Pictured are: Garmon Smith (Chair) Kathy and Tom Akins (winners) Trudy Nevland (Secretary) and Doug Weirick (Vice Chair).
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