After collecting a month’s worth of newspapers and aluminum cans in your garage and waiting for a break from the cold weather to deliver them to the nearest drop-off recycling bin, you cannot seem to find it. That brown bin just blends in! Help Richland Opportunities Inc. give those bland bins a vibrant make over.

Mural designs must be community oriented and should represent positive environmental values. Designs could express the importance of recycling or the connection between recycling and a clean, healthy environment. Themes of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), litter prevention, natural resource conservation or many other positive environmental concepts could be used.

“We want people to be creative and have fun with their design,” Ellen Forde, ROI recycling coordinator, said. “The bins are a blank canvas for people to represent their visions of a healthy community and environment.” Individuals, groups and organizations are encouraged to submit ideas. Murals will be selected by a panel of judges including ROI employee Kerry O’Dell and Sidney Mayor Bret Smelser. Selected artists will be announced on Earth Day, April 22. All painting supplies will be provided by ROI.

After all 14 recycling bins have been painted, prize winners will be determined through a county-wide vote. First prize is a $75 gift certificate to Pamida, second prize is a $50 gift certificate to Centre Theatre, third prize is a $25 gift certificate to Millers’ Corner.

Submit your mural idea to ROI by April 16 to have a chance for your artwork to be on permanent display in the community. Applications and requirements can be downloaded from ROI’s Web site at www.roisidney.org or call Ellen Forde at 488.3341 x.7 to request a copy.