Green Is The New Black

On April 11, Saline county students will be turning trash into treasure in the upcoming first annual Re-Fashion Bash “Where Green is the New Black.”

Students of all ages have designed fashion pieces from what most people would consider trash. Costume specifications for the show include: cardboard, steel/tin, recycled fabric or clothing, aluminum, plastics, paper, cartons, chipboard, newspaper, mixed paper (magazines, junk mail, and catalogs), paper bags, and glass.

These items will be modeled and showcased at the show with the first prizewinner receiving $500 cash, the second place winner receiving $250 cash and the 3rd place winner receiving $100 cash. There will also be at least four Saline County seniors that will receive $1500 scholarships for their volunteer efforts and serving in the community that will be announced at the event. Sponsors of the event include Little Rock Fashion Week, One of a Kind Talent, Promotional Ideas, and The Point 94.1 Classic Rock.

The Rise In Recycling

Recycling has become more and more popular in the United States over the past several years. According to recent statistics, despite the high amount of waste being discarded in over 1,900 landfills across the United States, U.S. recycling rates have been increasing since the 1960s. In 2010, about one third of the roughly 250 million tons of total municipal solid waste generated was recovered for recycling.

Since there are no national mandates or laws regarding recycling, it is up to each and every state and city to establish recycling habits and laws. Some cities, such as Seattle, and states like Connecticut, have created mandatory recycling laws that may fines citizens who throw away certain recyclable materials. Vermont also employed a landfill ban of recyclable materials, food and yard waste, and wood. There are also voluntary programs and educational programs to increase recycling where it is not mandated by law.

Cities within Saline County such as Benton and Bryant have begun and improved current recycling programs to become more “green” communities. According to the Bryant website cityofbryant.com, “our goal is to become a zero waste City Hall. Employees’ personal offices within the City Hall no longer have trashcans in them. Offices will only have a recycle bucket for paper, aluminum, and plastic. All non-recyclable items must be taken to a central trash can location in specified areas of the building.”

Additional locations have been added throughout the city of Bryant for recyclable bins to be placed as well. Benton is home to the Saline County RSWMD and has several places for recyclables to be dropped off and processed.

Connecting With The Next Generation

Tiffany Dunn, Marketing Coordinator for the Saline County Regional Solid Waste Management District explains, “There are 25 schools in Saline County and each school has a YEA Team (Youth Environmental Ambassadors) that the Saline County RSWMD helps to fund their projects. Some of the projects the schools have been working on are increasing their recycling programs at schools, building gardens, energy efficiency, and waste free programs.”

“Our YEA Teams volunteer with organizations such as Keep Bryant Beautiful and Benton matters. They also volunteer with the Saline County RSWMD at drop off events and other promotional events that we are a part of like the Christmas parade, Saline County Fair, and Spring in Saline,” Dunn, said.

Immediately following the Re-Fashion Bash fashion show, there will be an art showcase and a meet and greet with the models and designers of the outfits worn. “The art showcase will feature Recycled Art that the Saline County schools did for an America Recycles Day Art contest that was held in November of 2014,” Dunn stated.

Habitat for Humanity Re-Store and Native Hound will be on site featuring items available for sale. Other vendors will be present selling items as well but the event is still in need of more vendors to participate. Booths are free and if interested, contact the Saline County RSWMD office at 501-776-2533.

The event will be held on April 11th, 2015 at the Benton Event Center. Doors open at 5:00 PM and the show starts at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $5.00 in advance or $10.00 at the door. All proceeds go to benefit the YEA Teams (Youth Environmental Ambassadors) of Saline County. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Saline County RSWMD office located at 114 West Sevier Street Benton, AR 72015.