AMERICA RECYCLES DAY – NOVEMBER 15

America Recycles Day (ARD) 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 ARD 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. The Rome/Floyd Recycling Center has sponsored different events each year as part of our commitment to educating our citizens about the importance of recycling and buying recycled,

This year, we are hosting a truckload compost bin sale on Saturday, November 15 from 8am – 4pm in the Lowe’s parking lot at 2338 Shorter Ave. The event is being worked by volunteers from local garden clubs and is an outstanding opportunity to start composting with this easy to use bin. Composting, Nature’s way of recycling, will happen all by itself, however, with a compost bin you can speed up the process and turn leaves and kitchen scraps into excellent soil amendment. Composting has the potential of reducing your lawn, garden and kitchen waste by 30% as well as your garden’s requirements for water and fertilizer. Each bin comes with a book with complete instructions on composting so even a beginner start composting. The bins will sell for $ 35 + tax.

Another way the America Recycles Day organization promotes recycling awareness is to encourage citizens to “take the pledge” by filling out a pledge card that is then entered into State and National drawings for super prizes.

Grand Prize: - Adult - A 2004 Ford Focus PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle). Ford's most popular selling car, meets California's stringent partial zero emissions standard and achieves a perfect 10 - the cleanest rating - in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Vehicle Guide - without requiring performance, fun-to-drive or economical sacrifices on the part of its owners. The car not only helps to reduce vehicle emissions, but is highly recyclable at its end-of-life and is partially constructed with recycled-content components. For comparison purposes, a PZEV Focus must be driven 6,700 miles to produce the same tailpipe emissions as a 5.4-horsepower lawnmower used for one hour.

Grand Prize – Youth - Five aluminum Trek Model 4300 24-speed bicycles. Made with Alpha(tm) Aluminum framing, offering increased durability and strength to handle the most rugged trails or the smoothest paved paths. With Suntour crank and Shimano Acera 24-speed shifting components, these lightweight aluminum bicycles offer safety and comfort for the recreational bicycler.

First Prize – Adult - Two lucky winners will enjoy themselves as they find comfort after winning the "Recycle Yourself Weekend" spa vacation packages. Each of the lucky winners will be awarded certificates to enjoy a weekend getaway for two which includes - dinner, lodging and a spa treatment. A travel stipend rounds out this award.

State Prizes include a bicycle, refurbished computer, power drill with rechargeable battery, Eco-Spun

recycled content blanket and more.

Pledge cards are now available at the Recycling Center, the Saturday compost bin sale and on our website at www.romefloydrecycles.org.

Sponsors of America Recycles Day include Alcan Aluminum Corp., 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance, Environmental Defense, Ford Motor Company, The Home Depot, National Recycling Coalition, National Soft Drink Association., Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, Recycling Alliance of Texas, Solid Waste Association of North America, Staples, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Recycle America Alliance, Inc.