ELKHART, Indiana (October 20, 2021) – A total of $50,000 in prize money is up for grabs for teams competing in Elkhart County’s fourth-consecutive Leaf Collection Competition. The competition commenced on October 6 and runs through December 20 with prize money funded by the County’s Solid Waste District.
“Fees collected from dumping at the County Landfill are what fund this friendly competition which means zero tax money is involved,” shares Suzie Weirick, Elkhart County Commissioners President. “A total of 11 teams are participating this year, and the winnings will be divided among them based on the percentage of leaves they collect. Each team, though, is guaranteed $500 if they bring in at least 1 ton of leaves.”
The contest is aimed at recruiting volunteers, so for-profit companies are not allowed to enter. In addition, leaves must be gathered from properties in unincorporated areas of the County, making communities with their own leaf pick-up programs — Goshen, Elkhart, Bristol, Middlebury, Millersburg, Nappanee, and Wakarusa — out of bounds.
“Year after year, leaf collection continues to grow with hundreds of Elkhart County residents eagerly working together to flex their creativity,” adds Weirick. “There are so many good things that come out of this competition. Not only are participating teams helping their neighbors dispose of their leaves, but they’re also improving our community’s air quality by reducing leaf burnings.”
Teams have used their winnings in a variety of ways. For example, a previous competitor, Leaves for Light, used their prize money to install solar street lamps at their neighborhood bus stops. Other teams have gifted money to churches and several community organizations.
Details about the contest can be found at the County’s Solid Waste District’s website: https://www.elkhartcountylandfill.com/leaf-collection-competition.
A PDF copy of this release is available for download here.