An Otter Tail County Recycling radio ad has been selected as a 2021 Radio Mercury Awards finalist. The ad — produced in partnership with Leighton Broadcasting — is a part of a radio ad campaign celebrating how recycling gives waste a new life.
The Radio Mercury Awards, produced by the Radio Advertising Bureau, is the only competition for radio and audio, and encourages the development of creative and effective radio advertising. The ad selected, featuring paper as a recycled product, is one of 14 national finalists in the Purpose-Driven Spot or Campaign category.
The Give Waste A New Life radio ads were created last year by Cedar Walters of Otter Tail County Solid Waste and Greg Arends of Leighton Broadcasting. The series of ads features a fictional news reporter who gets carried away when he talks about recycling. Arends has a history of creating ad campaigns and thought the recycling ads had enough potential to be submitted to the Mercury Awards.
“I think people respond well to fun, and that was my goal — to show people what recycling can do in tangible terms, but make it so fun that people can’t help but listen and laugh. Thanks to the creativity of Greg at Leighton Broadcasting, I think we achieved that goal together,” said Cedar Walters, public information and education officer.
The winners of the 2021 Radio Mercury Awards will be announced during a virtual awards ceremony on Nov. 17. To learn more about recycling and to listen to the series of Give Waste A New Life radio ads, visit ottertailcountymn.us/content-page/give-waste-a-new-life-recycle/ .
