'Recycle, It's Our Future' is the theme for Murfreesboro and Rutherford County's free 2016 Earth Day Celebration. The 15^th annual Celebration will once again be held on the Historic Downtown Square in Murfreesboro, Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to enjoy musical entertainment, free food, door prizes, and a variety of more than 30 local advocates raising awareness on the importance of recycling for our future. The Earth Day Celebration is a Zero-Waste Event.

"We are excited to welcome attendees and a growing number of participants in this year's 15^th annual Celebration," said 2016 Earth Day Celebration Committee Chair Amy Byers. "Everyone understands how vital recycling is, not only for the environment but for economic sustainability. We look forward to celebrating the benefits of recycling and urging citizens to 'Recycle, It's Our Future.'"

The importance of recycling is punctuated by the growing awareness that Middle Point Landfill is nearing the end of its lifespan. Just a few ways earth-friendly citizens can "Recycle" for "Our Future" include:

• Being conscious about what you purchase, including how necessary the packaging is or whether the packaging can be recycled instead of disposed.
• Utilize the Rutherford County Recycling Centers located throughout Rutherford County

http://solidwaste.rutherfordcountytn.gov/

• Observe the rules for recycling household waste and recyclable materials.

What impactful actions can you take on a daily basis to contribute to the health and environment of our community? Recycling is one way we can all participate in reducing garbage in our local landfill as we celebrate Earth Day 2016. Organizers and participants will emphasize the protection, conservation and thoughtful use of our precious resources. For more information, visit the 2016 Earth Day Celebration Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Murfreesboros-Earth-Day-Celebration/204486542913317?fref=ts .

Once again, this year's Celebration features a contest encouraging local students to promote the importance of protecting and preserving our earthly resources. Students of Murfreesboro City Schools competed in an Essay-Video contest, demonstrating why recycling is important to our future. Winners will be announced during the Celebration. Last year, more than 200 5^th graders participated in a Poster-Essay contest to demonstrate how being "smart" about water is part of responsible earth-friendly citizenship.

Activities for young and old alike will be available on the Historic Downtown Square. Children can enjoy inflatable bouncing, temporary tattooing, MED's mascot Louie the Lightning Bug, General Mills local sustainable mascot, Mr. Wegs, and others. Musical entertainment will be provided by Steel de Boro at 10 a.m., MTSU Jazz at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., and Creative Rhythm at 1 p.m. Local plant and food items include Blackman FFA and Pies Devine as well as free hot dogs, cookies and popcorn.

The Murfreesboro Electric Department, a major sponsor of the annual Celebration, will distribute information on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Green Power Switch program. The Green Power Switch program gives customers an opportunity to purchase power produced by renewable resources such as wind, solar and biogas. For more information, visit

www.greenpowerswitch.com or contact Murfreesboro Electric (MED). In addition, MED will give-away 500 Crab Apple saplings.

Major sponsors include Clark Iron and Metal, the oldest recycling company in Murfreesboro, collecting aluminum cans and American Textile Recycling Services (ATRS), recycling unwanted clothing and household textiles. Other sponsors include Max Shred, All in One Recycling, General Mills celebrating its 150^th anniversary, Kroger, Lewis Brothers Bakery, the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, TVA, Murfreesboro City Schools, and Rutherford County Schools.

Rutherford County Solid Waste is among dozens of organizations participating in the Celebration by engaging attendees with fun facts and other valuable information about recycling. The other more than two dozen participants setting-up informational booths on earth-friendly topics and services will include the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC), Recycle Rutherford, Sinking Creek Wastewater Plant, Friends of the Greenway, the MTSU/City of Murfreesboro Stormwater Program, Stones River Watershed Association, and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.

For more information on Murfreesboro's 2016 Earth Day Celebration and this year's theme 'Recycle, It's Our Future,' contact Celebration Committee Chair Amy Byers, Murfreesboro Electric Department, at 615-494-0407 or email marketing@medtn.com. In the event of heavy rain, the Celebration will be moved to Patterson Park Community Center, 721 Mercury Blvd., Murfreesboro, 37130. Call 615-494-0407 for up-to-date information on weather-related event changes.

Fourteen Rutherford County Recycle Center Locations include:

1140 Haley Rd., Murfreesboro, TN (615) 898-7739

Rules & Hours: http://solidwaste.rutherfordcountytn.gov/recycling-rules.html.

Local Recycling

Other Recycling and Solid Waste Convenience Centers are located throughout Rutherford County. For a location nearest you, visit http://rcgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=5a74fefd558e4a80911ab8a42df70ff8

All in One Recycling (615) 216-4826

824 Industrial Dr., Murfreesboro, TN

Clark & Iron Metal (615) 893-7281

217 Hillard St., Murfreesboro, TN,

2016 is Earth Day's 46^th global anniversary with the theme "Trees for the Earth: Let's Get Planting," an emphasis on climate change and the countdown to Earth Day's 50^th anniversary. More information on the global celebration can be viewed at www.earthday.org/2016.