"The plate will show support for recycling and raise awareness, which is critical to our efforts in the battle to keep valuable material resources out of our landfills. And people can feel proud that $15 of each $25 plate purchased will help fund programs and initiatives aimed at increasing opportunities for growing recycling in Virginia," said VRA president Toby Edwards.

A two-prong initiative is now under way to make the recycling plate a reality - collecting 350 plate pre-orders and kicking off a statewide design contest.

The VRA strongly encourages those who care about recycling to drive home the point by pre-purchasing a recycling license plate. "Some special interest license plates have taken years because it took that long to get 350 pre-paid applications," said VRA board member Ken Mogul. "We hope people order now if they are interested in purchasing the plate, so we can keep the process moving. Our goal is to have the 350 pre-paid applications by spring."

The VRA is also holding a contest for the design of the special plate, in part to further the group's recycling awareness mandate. "This would be a great Earth Day project for environmental educators and teachers to do with their students," said Mogul. "We are asking that anyone in Virginia--artists, students, environmentalists--submit their drawing of what the recycling license plate should look like. All submissions are due by April 20th of 2007 at which point a panel will select the winners, including the grand prize design that will appear on cars throughout the Commonwealth. The announcement of winners will be made at our annual conference in May," said Mogul.

For more info about the design contest or purchasing a license plate, go to: www.vrarecycles.org or call 888-867-1923.