"Practicing Green Pays" Litter Prevention Awards Contest

Hosted by Keep North Carolina Beautiful - Enter to Win $500!

Let your environmental good deeds be recognized by entering Keep NC Beautiful’s (KNCB) 12^th annual Litter Prevention Awards Contest. Apply for a chance to win $500 for litter prevention, recycling and community greening programs initiated in 2010.

Government agencies, school/youth groups and non-profits are eligible to apply, and up to three $500 prize awards will be awarded for each category. Applications are based on the following criterion: response to need, litter prevention, measurability, education, partnerships, innovation and plans for award funds. The application process is designed to be basic and require minimal staff time.

Applications can be downloaded at www.keepncbeautiful.org and are due by March 31. For more information, contact KNCB Deputy Director Heather Thompson at (919)783-6993 or hthompson@keepncbeautiful.org.

The 2010 winners included: Johnson & Wales University (JWU), Charlotte; Polk County Appearance Commission, Tryon; Homeless Helping Homeless (HHH), Charlotte; Keep Richmond Beautiful, Rockingham; Blue Ridge Elementary, Warrensville; Craven Community College, New Bern; Haw River Assembly, Bynum; Casa Esperanza Montessori, Raleigh; Solid Waste Environmental Education Panel (SWEEP), Rutherfordton: and Keep Belmont Beautiful, Belmont.

The N.C. Department of Transportation and N.C. Beverage Association are sponsors of this contest.

Keep NC Beautiful is a nonprofit organization that engages and empowers individuals and organizations to take greater responsibility to keep North Carolina beautiful.

Contact: Heather Thompson

Deputy Director

Keep NC Beautiful

(919)783-6993 office

(919)215-4196 cell

hthompson@keepncbeautiful.org

www.keepncbeautiful.org

Winners of the RE3.org Climate Change Video Contest

Guest Blogger - Kristen

In April, RE3.org partnered with the Asheboro High School Zoo School and Union County Early College to create some videos depicting the link between recycling and climate change. By recycling we save energy, which decreases the amount of greenhouse gases sent into the atmosphere. There was a winner from each school.

Asheboro High School Zoo School Winners:
Congratulations to the creators of “Can Life Cycle-Recycling Climate Change,” for winning the 2010 DPPEA Climate Change Video Contest! Students Patrick Clifton, Chris Williams, Nolan Wilson, Zach Foust and Kirby Moffitt of Rhonda Dillingham’s electronics journalism class produced a video that creatively portrayed the lifecycle of a recycled aluminum can.

Union County Early College Winners:
Congratulations to the creators of “Recycling reduces pollution,” for winning the 2010 DPPEA Climate Change Video Contest! Students Jayenne, Jillian, Haydee and Melisa of Melissa Cook’s class produced a video that discussed how recycling reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

All winners got a certificate and RE3.org T-shirt made from recycled plastic bottles. The winning videos and other entries can be viewed on YouTube.

11TH Annual N.C. Litter Prevention Award Application

Keep North Carolina Beautiful, The Office of the Governor, North Carolina Beverage Association and the N.C. Department of Transportation, are accepting applications for work accomplished in 2009.

Award Categories:
Each category may receive up to three $500 prize awards each. Categories include:
- Government Agency
- School/Youth Group
- Non-profit Organization

Award criteria:
-Response to need
-Litter prevention
-Measurability
-Education
-Partnerships
-Innovation
-Plan for award funds

Download the award application from www.nckab.org. Questions may be e-mailed to hbthompson@mindspring.com or call (919) 783-6993.

CONTEST: EPA Hosts Video Competition to Promote “Three Rs” of Consumer Waste"

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring a video contest that challenges filmmakers to produce short, creative videos that highlight the “Three Rs” of individual consumption: reduce, reuse and recycle. The agency is accepting submissions for the contest, called “Our Planet, Our Stuff, Our Choice” through Feb. 16.

Entries should be either 30 or 60 seconds in length. The video should creatively promote steps individuals and organizations can take to minimize negative environmental impacts within their communities on the following topics:
-Reducing and reusing
-Recycling
-Composting
-Consumption and its effect on environmental footprint

The winning submissions will be announced in April 2010 in time for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Awards will be given to the top three videos in the following amounts, as well as a special “Student Winner” category exclusively for submissions by persons 13- to 18-years-old at the time of entry.
-1st Place - $2,500
-2nd Place - $1,500
-3rd Place - $1,000
-2 Student Winners (13 to 18 years old) - $500 each

For more information on the contest click here.

Recycling Rocks

Live Nation, a live events company that focuses on promoting concerts and selling tickets, has a new contest titled “Recycling Rocks: The Ultimate Access Pass Sweepstakes.” When you enter the contest, you are prompted to answer two questions: how do you rock at recycling and what are some ideas for a new way to recycle at home. All you have to do is answer these questions and then you will be entered to win an all-access pass for yourself and a friend to attend Live Nation concerts in 2010. Sounds like a sweet deal, right?

The “Recycling Rocks” Web site also features three recycling-themed sections. The “Recycle Like a Rockstar” section has all the low-down on what major acts are doing to green their tours. This includes artists such as Dave Matthews Band, Radiohead, Green Day and Russell Simmons. Yes, hip-hop artists like to recycle too!

The second section features “Green Gear That Rocks.” It lists many cool, eco-friendly items that are perfect for any music fan. Who wouldn’t love a reusable tote bag made from their favorite band tee? Or maybe a bracelet made from Eric Clapton’s recycled guitar strings?

The last section, “Recycling Confessions,” lets the fans write in and tell the world how they are recycling and going green. Live Nation then spins off its answer and offers additional ways to go greener. For example, Carla L. from Charlotte uses her scratched records and CDs to make wind chimes and clocks. How could she go greener? Donate old corks to companies who can make them into flooring and wall tiles!

For more information or to enter the contest, check out www.livenation.com/recyclingrocks!

RE3.org High School Commercial Contest

Guest Blogger – Clare

North Carolina’s Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance announces the 2009 RE3.org Recycling Commercial Contest for high school students. Students may submit a 30 second ad to be aired across North Carolina on cable television. The ad must have a recycling message geared toward other high school students, but how the message is delivered is entirely up to the entrants. We’re looking for original and unique submissions, so entrants have complete creative license.

Entrants MUST be in high school. Any high school group (i.e. Environmental Club), high school class (i.e. Miss Harris’s 3rd period yearbook class), or high school student (i.e. Bobby’s senior project) may enter as long as the teacher or group leader over 18 years of age submits the entry. Only one entry per high school group/class/student please. Submissions must be received by March 30, 2009. The winning entry will have its commercial aired on cable television throughout the state, plus all members of the winning group will receive a prize pack from the sponsors (approximate retail value of $100) and the high school or high school group will receive a $500 Amex gift card.

Please visit RE3.org to read the full rules and download the contest entry form. Any questions may be directed to re3.org@gmail.com. Also, check out our previous commercial contest entries by going to our You Tube page.
Good Luck!

Recycle Glass Day – December 10

RE3.org is a proud supporter of the first Recycle Glass Day. As part of Recycle Glass Day, the Glass Packaging Institute conducted a YouTube video competition. Participating packaging sciences students from Cal Poly, Clemson University, Michigan State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, San Jose State University and Stout University of Wisconsin, created videos to help build national awareness about the benefits of glass container recycling to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and better the environment.

Watch the videos and rate your favorite!
Celebrate Recycle Glass Day on December 10th.

UPDATED: Want to be a star?

N.C. DPPEA is teaming up with Time Warner Cable to create a new RE3.org commercial. To shoot this commercial, we need actors (aged 18-21) to spread the recycling word on screen. If you’re interested in being in this commercial, please:
- Provide us with your name, birth date and contact information.
- Take a picture of yourself with a recycling bin. If your entry is among those selected, you can star in our commercial!

*Submit your information and picture by noon on January 5, 2009 to Clare Estes at clare.estes@ncmail.net or Clare Estes, N.C. DPPEA, 1639 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1639.
*Filming will take place in Raleigh during the month of January 2009.
*Call (919) 715-6536 with questions.

Legal stuff -
-You must be 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license or other state-issued identification.
-You will be required to complete a release allowing the use of your picture, likeness, photograph and voice in the commercial.
-N.C. DENR DPPEA and Time Warner Cable will not provide any monetary compensation for being in the commercial.
-N.C. DENR DPPEA and Time Warner Cable assume no responsibility or liability for damages, losses or injury resulting from the making of the commercial.
-N.C. DENR DPPEA and Time Warner Cable are not responsible for late, lost or misdirected entries. All entries become the property of N.C. DENR Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance and will not be acknowledged or returned.

Planet Smoothie

We have a new intern. Please welcome Clare and check out her guest blog post below.

I have an unhealthy addiction to smoothies. It’s become practically routine for me to pick one up on the way to class. Yesterday I discovered Planet Smoothie on Hillsborough St. across from NC State’s campus (verdict=tasty). While slurping my way through yet another class, a small blurb on the cup caught my eye. Planet Smoothie is sponsoring a green solutions contest for their customers. To the winning individual who comes up with a way to “re-use it or lose it”, Planet Smoothie will reward them $5,000 and free smoothies for a year (is it sad that I was more excited about the free smoothies than the money?).

Visit www.planetsmoothie.com for details and entry proposal. Deadline for solution submissions is September 30, 2008. After you submit your green idea, post it here on the comments section so we can read all about it. Good Luck!

E-mail Tidbits Part 4 – Contests

Recycling Bin Design Contest
Busch Systems in partnership with the Collegiate/University Recycling Council announced their second annual Product Design Competition for a recycling bin. Is there a feature you’ve always wanted to see incorporated into a recycling container? What about a new-style container for your recycling program? Contact Busch Systems to discuss your submission. The deadline for submission is May 30, 2008.

Lifecycle Building Challenge 2 Launched
Have you heard about Design for Deconstruction yet? Imagine these possibilities:
-a recreational building that breaks into three parts for transportation by truck to a new site
-the green mobile home with detachable rooms allowing for additions or remodeling
-a plug-in home with a specialized connector joint, allowing components to be unplugged quickly and without damage
-zip tape that allows drywall to be easily removed and reused

Building science fiction?! Not at all – these are just a few examples of ideas from last year's Lifecycle Building Challenge! The Lifecycle Building Challenge 2 is a Web-based competition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Building Materials Reuse Association, the American Institute of Architects, Southface Energy Institute and West Coast Green. This national competition invites engineers, designers, planners, contractors, builders, educators and students to submit their ideas for buildings and building materials that facilitate and anticipate future changes to and eventual adaptation, disassembly, or dismantling for recovery. For details and free registration visit www.lifecyclebuilding.org. Please register online by June 15, 2008. Entries must be submitted by July 31, 2008. If you have any questions, e-mail: info@lifecyclebuilding.org.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK – Commercial Contests

I have posted before about user generated content. It is all the rage.

Earth 911 and Quantum Shift are sponsoring a commercial contest. What's your eco-resolution for 2008? Make a short video, max 2 min, about what you plan to do for the earth this year. It could be personal, political, local or global. Any action you can think of that moves us closer to a sustainable future. Hurry up and finish your project; the deadline is Jan. 31, 2008.

The Smart Power Clean Energy Ad Challenge winner can be found here. The winning ad is good, but still not as good as our “Tag” RE3.org commercial.

MTV Video Music Award (VMA) Prize Pack Winners

Through Sept. 30, 2007, North Carolinians were able to register to win an MTV VMA prize pack valued at more than $300 from Time Warner Cable. We received more than 150 entries. And the winners are . . .
In Washington, NC – Carolyn, age 42
In Asheboro, NC – Ilona, age 27
In Chapel Hill, NC – Christie, age 20
In Gastonia, NC - Shanda, age 34

28 percent of entries were from folks in their 30s and 27 percent were in their 20s. 55 entries were from Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill. 16 entries were from Charlotte. 11 entries were from Wilmington, Shallotte, etc. Thank you to everyone who registered for the prize or promoted the contest.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK - "Can Crushing Contests"

I got a comment about the “sport” of can crushing on our YouTube account. Ever heard of this? Check out this video to learn more about it.

According to rfgardner “The key [to can crushing] is the equipment and the guts to go do it. The old equipment was heavy and expensive, the new "C" series is lightweight and portable. Currently folks are setup in Ohio, Virginia, Michigan, California, New York and a few other states, mostly doing their own thing. But I plan to rebuild the organization and tie events together this season using the Can2Beat Contest. Interactive fun activity!!”

Make your own Epic

As part of The Sustainable Living Expo, EPIC has teamed up with Seventh Generation Inc. and Treehugger.com to launch the EPIC International Prize as part of the Convenient Truths: A Green Video competition.

An Inconvenient Truth presented a problem; we want you to show us how to solve this problem. Create an actionable, inspiring follow-up to the movie.

The EPIC International Prize will focus on videos that best address issues of conscious consumerism and its relationship to climate change. Videos can discuss various components of daily life including transportation, home and garden, clothing, work, recreation, etc., and in this, the subsequent actions being taken to reduce one's carbon footprint.

FIRST PRIZE WINNER will receive a cash award of $5,000, a Jorg&Olif Citybike, a pair of Earthangels Shoes from John Fluevog and a free flight to Vancouver for the EPIC Sustainable Living Expo.

TOP TEN videos will be screened on epicvancouver.com
FINALISTS will be screened on the EPIC Main Stage

FOR CONTEST DETAILS GO TO www.truths.treehugger.com. Hurry! The deadline is Feb. 28, 2007.