Susan Atkinson was on vacation in Florida when she attended a runway fashion show in which the models wore outfits composed of garbage, and a light bulb clicked on over her head — likely an energy-efficient light bulb.

Atkinson, the wife of Berry Elementary Director Paul Atkinson, returned to Rome with an idea to raise awareness about the need for recycling, and Project greenBERRY was born. The new organization — which has adopted the slogan “rethink, revalue, recreate” — is now calling all fashion designers.

The first big event for PGB is a runway fashion show, planned for Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Krannert Ballroom. Anyone with a green eye for design and a desire to promote recycling is invited to create a costume from recyclable materials to show off at the show. And it’s not just about raising awareness — the outfits will be judged by local celebrities and cash prizes will be awarded.

Though the event should be fun, the message is a serious one.

“If we can tell people to be sure to recycle those plastic bottles, because we only recycle 7 percent in Georgia, we can get that number up to 80 or 90 percent,” said Atkinson.

The show is being produced by 25 Berry Middle School students. The kids are designing the set (including a giant cardboard trash monster), planning the music, seeking the models and designers, and trying to spread the idea. With help from Students Against Violating the Earth, a Berry College environmental group, the middle schoolers are also learning.

“We learned about the time it takes for things to break down in the landfills,” said eighth-grader Alex Banerjee.

“If we could recycle more, we could save money and energy.”

Macey Jones, a seventh-grade student, said she wants people who take part in the fashion show and those who attend the event to know that recycling is not only important, but that it can also be fun.

“I think it’s very cool that we can do this to save the Earth,” she said.

Fashion fans should expect to learn about recycling too, because digital presentations during the show (it’s a paperless event) will offer lessons about landfills and the benefits of rehashing your trash.

If all goes well, Project greenBERRY will make the trash fashion show an annual event, but its members hope to continue to promote recycling throughout the year with various other efforts.

“We hope when anyone hears ‘Project greenBERRY’ they know (what we’re about),” said Lynne Manna, admission director and a volunteering parent.

Manna said there is no limit on the number of people that can enter the fashion show, and there are only two major rules: the outfit should be made of at least 75 percent recyclable material, and since the event is family friendly, the outfits should be too.

Outfits will be split into categories, including casual or sportswear, evening wear, avant garde, menswear, and costume. Judges will be WRGA’s Nelle Reagan, former Rome-Floyd Recycling Center Director Marta Turner, Rome-Floyd Environmental Services Director Eric Lindberg, and Brenda Briggs, the wife of Berry College President Stephen Briggs.

Admission for the show is $5 at the door. All proceeds will benefit Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful and the recycling center. Would-be designers can find an online registration form at www.projectgreenberry.com.

Click to see the Project greenBERRY Facebook page.