Missouri Department of Conservation and MoDOT invite schools to fight litter through "No More Trash!" Annual Can Contest!
Jefferson City, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) invite Missouri public, private, and home-school students in grades K-8 to help fight litter in the Show-Me State -- and to have creative and educational fun -- by participating in the 2017 "Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free" trash-can-decorating contest. The annual contest is sponsored by MDC and MoDOT as part of the state's "No MOre Trash!" statewide litter campaign.
The contest encourages school classes and groups to join in the fight against litter by decorating and displaying a large trash can with the "No MOre Trash!" logo and a litter-prevention message using a variety of creative media. Schools may submit one entry in each competition category: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Entries are judged based on creativity, adherence to contest rules, and effective use of theme and logo.
First-place winners from each competition category receive $200 awarded to the sponsoring schools. All first-place winners are then eligible for a grand prize of a trophy and $600 awarded to the sponsoring school.
There is no entry fee for the contest. Participating school groups must submit a completed entry form online with up to three photos to nomoretrash.org by Friday, March 17. Contest rules, entry forms, logo, past contest entries and winners, and educational information can also be found at nomoretrash.org.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American generates about four pounds of trash each day.
"Missouri's six million residents produce nearly 26 million pounds of garbage in one day. That's more than nine BILLION pounds of trash per year!" said MDC NMT Coordinator Joe Jerek. "Much of that trash shows up on our streets and roadsides, natural areas, and waterways. Litter harms our fish and water quality, plants, and hurts wildlife. Litter also hurts property values, landscape appearance, and our overall quality of life."
Jerek added that littering is illegal in Missouri and can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and one year in jail.
Photo and article Submitted
Shown in the photo: Teacher Gail Forsyth and her students in the Second Grade Recycle Club at East Elementary in Waynesville won the 2016 "No MOre Trash!" trash-can contest with their winning entry, "Box-up your recyclables, Missouri's State Reptile: 3-toed Box Turtle." They won the K-2 Grade Category and also the Grand Prize.
