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Feb. 17, 2010 For more information, contact: Solid Waste District Announces Earth Day Poster, Trash Art Contest for 2010 The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District recently announced the theme for its 2010 poster and trash art contest. This year’s theme is “Be Green! Keep the Planet Clean.” This is the eighteenth year that Ozark Rivers has sponsored the contest. Students attending public and private schools in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski or Washington counties are eligible to participate. Home-schooled students in the seven-county area are also encouraged to participate. Contest information will be distributed to all schools in the seven-county district. Deadline for entries is April 2, 2010. The poster contest is open to all K-12 students and should focus on the beneficial long-term results of recycling, ways to protect and enhance the environment and how our actions today impact our planet and future. Trash art projects do not have to adhere to the theme but should convey an Earth Day-type message. Posters and trash art entries will be judge separately, and students can participate in both the poster and trash art contest, if they choose. First place prizes are $50 U.S. savings bonds; second place prizes will be earth friendly gifts valued at $15 or more. Every student that participates will receive a small prize. These poster and trash art contests are a part of the district's effort to increase awareness of the solid waste problem and to generate interest in reducing the amount of waste deposited in area landfills. Education and awareness are key components of the district's solid waste management plan. "We encourage teachers to use this project as an opportunity to discuss solid waste problems, like illegal dumping, and the benefits of recycling as well as the meaning of Earth Day," said Tammy Snodgrass, environmental programs manager for Meramec Regional Planning Commission. Teachers can contact Snodgrass or Teri Smith for curriculum and research ideas to use in the classroom. The Ozark Rivers District has books and videos and other learning aids available for check out to teachers and home-schoolers. Contest winners will be notified the week of April 12, and the winning posters and artwork will be part of an exhibit at the Missouri University of Science and Technology during its Earth Day celebration on April 22. Once again, area banks have been asked to cosponsor this year's contest by providing savings bonds. Sponsors so far include Legends Bank of Linn, Legends Bank of Owensville, Legends Bank of Belle, Heritage Community Bank of Chamois, Maries County Bank (Vienna), Community Bank of Owensville, a branch of the Maries County Bank, First State Community Bank of Potosi, Peoples Bank of Steelville, Peoples Bank of Cuba, Phelps County Bank, The Bank of Salem, Unico Bank of Potosi, Citizens Bank of Newburg and Town and Country Bank of St. James, First State Community Bank of Sullivan, Belle State Bank and Mid American Bank (Belle). Donations of savings bonds are still being accepted. Persons needing more information should contact Snodgrass or Smith at (573) 265-2993 or by email at tsnodgrass@meramecregion.org or press@meramecregion.org. More information is also available online at www.meramecregion.org. |