River Sweep poster contest announced

Students in primary and secondary schools (public and private, K-12) are invited to design a poster for the 21st annual River Sweep 2010.

Fifteen prizes will be awarded. The grand prize is a $500 U.S. Savings Bond, and the school representing the grand prize winner will also receive an award. A?$500 U.S. Savings Bond will be presented to the student with the winning design for the official River Sweep t-shirt. Thirteen $50 U.S. Savings Bonds will be awarded to one winner at each grade level.

The poster contest is open to students living in or attending schools in communities bordering the Ohio River.

The 21st annual River Sweep will be held June 19, 2010. River Sweep is a one-day cleanup project for the Ohio River and its tributaries. The Sweep covers nearly 3,000 miles of shoreline from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Ill., and averages more that 21,000 volunteers a year. Trash collected during the Sweep has included cars, tires, furniture, toys, a piano and a variety of other items. All trash collected is either recycled or placed in approved landfills.

River Sweep is held to create an awareness of water quality problems caused by litter and illegal dumping. Posters submitted for the contest should reflect this goal and focus on encouraging volunteer participation.

Deadline for the contest is Dec. 16.

River Sweep is sponsored by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO).

For information about the River Sweep Poster Contest, or for complete contest rules and regulations, contact Jeanne Ison at (800)?359-3977, or visit the Commission's Web site at www.orsanco.org.