Waste stream journal, Vol. 2, no. 4 (Fall 1998)

~;~w'THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL

A Waste Reduction Newsletter of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs

* * * VOL. II NO. 4

FALL 1998

****

IT'S ON US

Recycles Day '98
Georgia Set to Out-Recycle Them All
Organizers Hope to Beat Lone Star State in Local Events
As November 15 approaches, Georgians are gearing up to celebrate another America Recycles Day.
This year's theme, ''If You're Not Buying Recycled, You're Not Really.Recycling," aims to teach participants that recycling doesn't stop with putting materials in a bin. Instead, recycling also means purchasing recycled materials so that the demand for recyclables remains high.
Residents are encouraged to sign pledges on America Recycles Day proclaiming their intent to recycle and purchase recycled products. Once again, all signed pledges will be placed in a national drawing for an American Green Dream House. This spacious three-bedroom home--,-built on the lot of the winner's choice-is ViJ.lued at more than $200,000 and is built primarily with recycled materials. The youth award will again be a family vacation to Disney World.
In our state, participants will celebrate "America Recycles Day in Georgia." Communities and organizations will hold numerous special events to raise awareness and gather signed pledge cards.
Last year, Georgia boasted
See ARD on pg. 4: a"

Talkin' Trash-

* * *
The Public Sector

* * *
The Private Sector

D CA received an EPA grant to promote payas-you-throw programs in Georgia. Part of the grant will go toward a training session to take place early in 1999. Look in the next issue of The Wqste Stream Journal for more information.
***
Georgia local governments are busy planning the next five years ,in solid waste management. More than two hundred plans .were due June 30, and 260 more are expected to arrive by year's end. Local governments with 1998 deadlines have been notified. If you need information on the status of your local government's SWM plan, contact Rachel Cochran at (404) 679-4998 or rcochran@dca.state.ga.us.
***
This spring, more than 40 recycling .coordinators attended DCA's Recycling Program Development Training session in Macon. The two-day course addressed the needs of the novice recycling coordinator. For more information about future
training or to recieve a: c;opy of
the training manual, contact Karen Sabatini at (404) 679-3161 or ksabatin@dca.state.ga.us.
See PUBLIC on page 11: -

Is your recycling facility "high-quality, interesting, and successful?" It may be just what Waste Age is looking for to highlight as its Recycling Facility of the Month. Let them know about your operation and what distinguishes it from the rest in a one-page description. Fax your bragging points to Kim O'Connell at (202) 966-4868 or e-mail kimo@envasns.org.
***
Starbucks knows that coffee not only wakes up their customers; it can wake up customers' compost piles as well. According to a recent issue of Resource Recycling, the world's largest chain of coffee shops is offering free coffee grounds for composters at each of its Canadian stores.
***
Waste News reports that Integrated Wastechnologies International LLC of Atlanta will be conducting a waste management feasibility study for the country of South Africa in the near future. The study will determine the economic viability of a waste-processing center. This could lead to a contract for the Atlanta company to build a wasteprocessing center near Johannesburg. This center
See PRIVATE on page 11: a"

In This Issue

Curbside programs struggling in two (:ities, pg. 3. Georgia prison composting expands to sixth site, pg. 5. Holiday promotion save time and landfill space, pg. 7 Don't know your MSW from your SWM? See acronyms, pg. 10.

Moving to the goal
DCA Releases Solid Waste Annual Report

Georgians Threw Less Stuff Away in 1997

Georgia's per capita waste

disposal went down for the

first time in four years

according to the receJ:!tly

published 1997 Georgia

Solid Waste Management

Annual Report.



During the 1997 fiscal year,

Georgians disposed of 9.9

million tons of solid waste, or

7.35 pounds per person per day.

In FY96, Georgians disposed

of 9.8 million tons, or 7.43

pounds per person per day.

Because disposal rates have

risen in recent years,

Georgians still need to reduce

the per capita amountof waste

disposed of by 27% in order

to reach the 25% statewide

reduction goal.

In a letter introducing the

report, DCA Commissioner

Jim Higdon, EPD Director

Harold Reheis, P2ADDirector

Bob Kerr and GEFAExecutive

Director Paul Burks. wrote that

they were pleased that the

waste disposal number had

moved in the direction of the

goal, but their excitement was

tempered by the fact that the

movement was by only 1%.

The report credits the

September 1996 yard

trimmings ban with slowing the

growth in disposal rates. .The

ban requires local governments

and SWM authorities to require

separation of yard trimmings

from solid waste before

SEE REPORT on pg. 6: -

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNALFALL1998 _ _ _ _ _-,--_ _ _ _ _ ____;__ _ _ _ __
Landfill Demonstrates Benefits of Cooperation

On July 10, 1998, the located next to an existing The Auth-

Middle Georgia Regional landfill. This really helped to ority also

Solid Waste Management decrease local opposition," received a

Authority broke ground on its said Mixon.

series of four

new C&D landfill. The Macon, Peach and Dooly GEFA grants

landfill, located in Macon Counties formed.the Middle for a total of

I

County, is also permitted for Georgia SWMA in August of $ 1 3 0, 0 0 O,

use as a Subtitle D landfill; 1993, pursuant to the Regional over five

however, construction on the Solid Waste Management years to help

Subtitle D portion of the Authority Act. Since thattime, with the

project has been delayed.

the Authority has met on a 1an d f i 11' s

Gerald Mixon, planning monthly basis. Their primary construction. The remaining Groundbreaking ceremonies in director for the Middle Flint objective has been the funds for the project came Macon County signaled the

RDC,saidtheprocessofsiting developmentandconstruction from a $235,000 loan. A start ofa new landfill project

the landfill was not difficult. of the C&D landfill.

tipping fee will be assessed "and a new level of cooperation

TheAuthoritywentthroughan Thelandfillisjointlyowned for use of the landfill, among local governments.

extensive selection process. by all three counties and is although the exact amount

They first identified seven operated by the Authority. The has not yet been set. counties will probably pay a

preliminary sites and then three counties paid for the Mixon said that the three slightly higher tipping fee

examined each site carefully. project on a per capita basis. counties were able to than the Authority members

The Authority purchased a Their contributions came.from cooperate so

to dispose of.

portion ofthe existing Macon County. landfill and two adjacent parcels of land to create the regional landfill.
"A major benefit of the site

a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). These combined funds covered about half of the construction costs according

effective 1y because they came to the process with a single united

THE LANDFILL PROVIDES
{MACON, DOOLY AND PEACH COUNTIES) WITH
AN EFFECTNE WASTE DISPOSAL OPTION THAT

their waste. However, as
Mixon points out, the Authority is still

that was chosen is that it is to Mixon.

'

g 0 a 1 - t 0 THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE open to new

---------------------------------------------------------------------------. man age their TO MAINTAIN INDIVIDUALLY. members.

solid waste disposal in the most efficient manner possible. Each

RICK BROOKS, DIRECTOR OF DCA' S PLANNING AND
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION

Other communities can buy into the Authority, although thi~ would re-

county was

quire a vote by

KAB, Institute Moves to New Level

looking for a way to decrease its future costs and answer solid waste concerns.
The formation of the Solid Waste Management Authority

the existing members. The Middle Georgia Regional SWMA also hopes to develop a regional KAB affiliate to serve all three counties.

Members of the inaugral class of the KAB Institute for Executive Directors, pictured above, will reconvene in Athens

provided a single answer to these two prnblems. The counties were .also successful

Currently, only Peach County has an affiliate.
"It's nice to see things

in February, 1999. The Institute provides professional training because they are very similar

and development for state KAB leaders, national staff and local demographically and, with

executive directors.

only a few counties involved,

working like they are supposed to work," said Rick Brooks, director of DCA's

The class of 30, including 17 executive directors of Georgia affiliates, attended the first level of training on the UGAcampus in February. Courses focused on interpersonal skills, group

it was not difficult to obtain a consensus.
In the future, the Authority

Planning and Environmental Management Division. "Macon, Peach and Dooly

processes, leadership skills and community action processes. The second level will focus on waste reduction issues. In the final level, students will design and complete a practicum using the knowledge and skills acquired in the first two levels.
The idea of an Institute originated with Georgia's local KAB executive directors, who were looking for professional development opportunities relevant to their jobs. Horace Hudson ofUGA's Cooperative Extension Service, the primary organizer .of the Institute, hopes that it will become a model for others around the country,

hopes to accomplish several new goals. The landfill was designed to hold more material than the three participating counties can generate. The Authority hopes to market the facility and take in C&D materials from other counties. These

counties have met the financial, technical and public opinion challenges associated with siting a new landfill by pooling their resources. The landfill provides them with an effective waste disposal option that they would not be able to maintain individually."

2

-----------~--- GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Cleanup Leaves Georgia Peachy

Cities Evaluate Curbside Pickup

More than 300 groups cans, paper, lottery tickets and Many local governments see the residents. The old curbside.

statewide participated in the fast food garbage were curbside recycling programs program serviced only the

1998 "Let's Keep Georgia collected by nearly every as the ideal way to boost "urban district," formerly the

Peachy Clean" Cleanup Week, participating group, there participation and increase the city of Augusta. .The

held April 18-25. Not only did were some strange items to be volume of recovered convenience centers are

the groups post record found as well.

materials. However, low located at four area fire

numbers, they also found the For some, the event turned participation rates can be a stations and the Richmond

strange and the bizarre on their profitable-$3 was found problem even in curbside County Landfill.

roadside journeys.

along with a six-pack of beer programs. This reality is According to Mike Greene,

Volunteers in 116 ofGeorgia's in one community, a $5 bill leading some Georgia assistant director of the Public

159 counties scoured more than and a $10 bill were found in communities to consider Works and Engineering

1,471 miles of roadway in order two other areas, and one alternatives to their current Operations Di vision, .the

to collect nearly 1.4 million person found a truck .tire curbside service.

convenience centers have

pounds of litter and garbage. worth $450. Honesty was the

proven very successful.

This total includes six best policy in other areas as Augusta-Richmond County However, the story doesn't

municipalities that held amnesty volunteers returned a wallet The City of Augusta began end there. Recently, the

days at their solid waste found on the side of the road its blue bag curbside recycling government decided to

facilities, allowing residents to and also returned a signed service to City residents in reinstitute a curbside program.

dispose of garbage and waste. blank c.heck for $250.

1992. Initially, the City "There was a lot of pressure

free of charge for one day only. Among the unusual items periodically delivered blue from citizens and the press to

A total of 14,000 volunteers (including some that fall in the bags to area homes. Residents start the program again,"

statewide donated nearly "wouldn't this make a great put their recyclables in blue Greene said.

22,000 hours of their time to country song" category) were bags and placed them out with The new system is very

beautify their cities, towns and numerous toilets, condoms, the rest of their trash.

different from the original blue

communities.

license plates, car parts, The City paid private bag program. Augusta-

"We are extremely pleased ketchup packets, animal haulers to pick up the trash and Richmond made a deal with

with the results of the events," skeletons, a bag of marijuana, . recyclables and take them to a one of the private companies

said DCA's David Smith, who an X-rated video, a love letter dirty MRF in North Augusta. involved in the old system.

served as statewide co- to an inmate and a silver- The City paid $285, 120 a year The Council approved the

ordinator. "Communities are plated antique pot.

a for the program regardless of purchase of 8,000 bins at cost

provided basic guidelines for "Let's Keep Georgia how many households of $2.84 per bin on July 21.

the event and it is great to see -Peachy Clean" Cleanup Week participated.

. The government will pay for

them expand on those is sponsored annually by the Unfortunately, when the city the bins, and in exchange, the

guidelines and become Peachy Clean Team and county governments hauler will pick up recyclables

creative with their projects." comprised of DCA, DOT, merged, the system began to at no cost to the government

Although the usual bottles, DNR and GEFA.

unravel. The government or the citizens. The hauler will

stopped delivering blue bags. collect aluminum, glass

Citizens .could still pick up and paper.

blue bags at the landfill, but, Greene said he is currently

according to the Augusta planning a kick off party to

Chronicle, no announcement involve restaurants, vendors

of the change was made and and local radio stations. The

no phone number for the focal point of the celebration

landfill listed was listed in the phone book. Most re~idents

will .be the distribution of the bins. The bins will be free, put

assumed that the recycling citizens will have to sign for

program had . been them. After the kick off day,

discontinued. These circum- bins will be available to any

stances caused the participation citizen who requests one, but

rate to drop to 20%.

they will not be distributed

Due to the low participation automatically.

rate and the high expense of the program, the consolidated Macon

government opted not to Macon has also been

renew its contract in May of considering the elimination of

Volunteers from the Georgia Military Academy on trash-removql detail.

this year. Instead the its curbside program due to

government established five cost and low participation

convenien,ce centers to service

See CITIES on page 4: a

3

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNALFALL1998 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

America Recycles Day in Georgia

continuedfrompage 1

244 local events, coming in second of 41 states participating. This year, the organizers hope to come in first by beating Texas, which held 518 local events in 1997.
After the local events, all signed pledge cards will be entered in a statewide drawing before being for-warded to the national drawing. The organizers, a group of representatives from 38 state and local government agencies, businesses, universities and non-profit organizations, are currently soliciting prizes for the state drawing.
As an added component to this year's celebration, Georgia students in grades K12 will have an opportunity to. participate in a statewide essay contest. The theme of the

contest is "What my family

does to reduce, reuse and

recycle." The entries will be

judged solely on content, and
the winning family will be

announced at the same time as

the winners of the

drawing.

Statewide

coordination of the

1998 America

Recycles Day in

Georgia activities is

sponsored by DCA

and managed by

the

Georgia

Recycling

Coalition.

Hundreds of local

governments, civic organ-

izations, KAB affiliates and

businesses will organize and

h9st community events. For

more information on how you

can become involved in

America Recycles Day, please

contact Barbara Mason at

(7 7 0) 5 9 0 - 5 2 6 1 or

mas 1OO@mindspring.com.

Cities Evaluate Curbside Pickup

continuedfrom page 3
rates. The program has been funded for another six months, and during this time the City Council will decide whether to continue it.
According to Larry Brown, director of the Public Works Department, the curbside program costs the City $320,000 a year, and only 20% of the citizens participate. The City has distributed bins to every residence, but the program is not mandatory. There is no charge specifically for recycling, although residents pay a $5/month fee for their entire solid waste disposal including recyclables. The City also receives $5.50 a ton for the materials.
At the beginning of the program, there was a great

deal of public education. Unfortunately, shortly after the curbside program's inception, the position of recycling coordinator was cut from the City's payroll, The result, according to Brown, is that there has been very little public education in the last few years.
Before the City moved to curbside recycling, it provided unmanned drop off sites where residents could take their recyclables. If Macon does eliminate the curbside progra11_1, it will likely go back to some type of drop off system. "If the program is cut, I would like to see .manned drop off centers or better yet a buyback program to really encourage people to recycle," Brown said.

The Tried and True
ARD Event Ideas That Worked
You don't have to spend a lot of time or money to participate in America Recycles Day. Here are some ideas communities have used to celebrate the day and gather signed pledge cards:
Hold a newspaper or aluminum can drive. Recycling companies might be willing to give you a better rate than usual. Use the money to benefit a local charity such as an animal shelter or school.
Host a ~'Clean Out Your Files apd Recycle the Clutter Day" for local businesses. Set up a drop off for old office paper or provide pickup service.
Offer ari open house and tour of your local composting, recycling or solid waste facility.
Sponsor a recycling competition among local schools or among classes within one school. Students collect aluminum cans or newspapers for recycling. On the last day of the contest, weigh the. materials to show how many pounds of materials have been kept out of the landfill. Reward the winning class or school with an ice cream party or other special treat.
Set up an information booth on recycling and the environment at your local mall or high school football game.
Encourage your local schools to participate in the statewide essay contest.
Conduct a drawing for prizes made of recyclable materials such as birdhouses.
Hold a community picnic with recycling games such as bowling with PET bottles.
Solicit volunteers such as scouting troops to staff temporary recycling collection sites in shopping centers. Make sure to publicize when and where.
It's easy for businesses to participate, too. The most important thing you can do is pledge to purchase recycled materials, such as office paper, for use by your businessand then follow through with your promise. Here are some other examples of ways Georgia businesses helped to make America Recycles Day a success last year:
Safety Kleen and Goodyear offered free oil changes with recycled oil and filters.
Eastern Plastics of Duluth hosted a pizza and barbecue picnic with games, clowns and a showcase of recycled products.
Sweet Returns Recycling Co. of Sunnyside paid mo.re than usual for recyclables turned in on America Recycles Day.

4

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ _ _ . . . . , . GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Prison Composting Expands

State Prison Composting Sites

to Dooly Site.

Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Center, Jackson

The Georgia Department of GDC initiated its recycling Corrections (GDC) has set up and composting program Lee State Prison, Leesburg its sixth recycling and when some local landfills near Autry State Prison, Calhoun State Prison, City of Leesburg

composting operation at Dooly State Prison near Unadilla. Established and managed by Community

GDC facilities banned prison kitchen food wastes. Other GDC facilities were in violation of EPD waste water

Rogers State Prison, Reidsville

.

Georgia State Prison, Ware State Prison, Emanual Probation

Detention Center, City of Rei.dsville

Environmental Management, treatment regulations. In Telfair State Prison, Helena

Inc., the operation will remove addition, there was a Wilcox State Prison, Telfair County Schools, Cities of Helena

both recyclable materials and continued threat to the and McRae, Little Ocmulgee State Park

kitchen food waste from the waste stream, saving transportation and disposal costs.
The composting operation

Department of surcharges by local.governments in reaction to increased overloading of their sewerage treatment facilities with food waste from

Walker State Prison, Rock Springs Hays State Prison, Walker County, Walker County .schools, cities of LaFayette, Fort Oglethorpe, Rossville and Chickamauga

processes the prison kitchen food waste with yard trimmings from the City of Unadilla and Dooly County.

nearby prisons. GDC compost sites combine
the problematic prison food wastes with carbon sources

Dooly Staie Prison, Unadilla



Macon State Prison, Pulaski State Prison, City of Unadilla,

Dooly County, GeorgiaAgri-Center at Perry

In addition, it takes yard from the community--often in +--------------------------.-------------------------------------------

trimmings, wood chips and the form of yard trimmings





carbon materials from the from a nearby loca1 1998 GEFA Grants Awarded

Georgia Agri-Center at Perry. government.

The operation also processes food waste from nearby Macon and Pulaski State Prisons for incorporation into the compost.windrows.
Based upon its five other recycling and composting operations at Georgia prisons, Community Environmental projects solid waste disposal cost savings of more than 60 percent, or about $44,000 annually, for the Dooly operation. In addition, money from the sale of recyclables will pay for the cost of operating the program.

Since the program began in at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson during the fall of 1993, it has consistently saved participating facilities about 63% of their waste disposal fees. Community Environm.ental projects that the six sites will divert 8,564 tons of waste from landfills and save GDC and local communities $257,000 in 1998. In addition, the program will produce compost valued at $100,000.
"The best thing about the program is that you're lightening the burden .on landfills and wastewater treatment facilities," said Nancy Allen of Community Envirnnmental. "You take [food waste] out of the waste stream and make compost, this wonderful product, out of it. And you help the environment all around."

GEFA's Board of Directors funded 41 grants totaling $1 million through the 1998 Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Program in April. The winners were chosen from a poo) of 58 applications, which requested almost $2.4 million.
The Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Program is designed to provide much needed financi.al assistance to Georgia local governments for recycling infrastructure. The program helps local gqvernments foster an integrated approach to waste reduction, composting and recycling. The funds may not be used for municipal solid waste disposal projects. Only Georgia cities, counties and solid waste management authorities may receive Recycling and Waste Reduction grants.

of up to $50,000. Coalitions of two or more counties, solid waste management authorities and projects that focused on scrap tire management alternatives, commercial/ins ti tu tional waste reduction programs, or efforts to expand markets for wood waste, municipal sludge, food p'rocessing waste, constructio'n and demolition debris, and carpet/textile waste were eligible for grants of up to $100,000.
Eligible activities for funding included new recycling programs or enhancement of existing recycling activities and financing the capital costs of recycling and waste reduction programs. Priority was given to scrap tire recycling programs and innovative programs or

Grants of up to $25,000 projects that brought together were available for individual new resources and approaches

cities or counties. Coalitions to recycling, waste reduction

Prisoners at Dooly State Prison prepare compost.

of two of more local and waste management. For a governments (counties or complete list of award cities) were eligible for grants . recipients, see pages 6 and 7.

5

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNALFALL1998 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Annual Report Shows Per Capita Reduction
continuedfrom page 1

collection and keep those yard trimmings out of MSW landfills with vertical expansions or with liners and leachate collection systems. These requirements were met by 79% oflocal governments.
Landfill capacity remains basically unchanged, with an average of 13 years left to fill remaining landfills. Though 15 vertically expanded landfills closed on July 1, 1998, their remaining capacity was only about 1% of the remaining capacity for all MSW landfills. However, their closure will dramatically affect the number of unlined landfills in the state, reducing it by 23%.
The report predicts hardships for local governments as they close these landfills. First, they may have to haul waste furtherand pay more for disposal. Secondly, they will have to pay for environmental monitoring and remediation.
The number of inert landfills increased from 1,633 in FY96 to 1,990 in FY97, probably as a result of the

open burning ban. Growth in the number of these small landfills, often used only for the duration of a construction project, is expected to slow because of a new EPD rule that requires a 100-foot buffer zone between buried waste and enclosed stnictures. The rule became effective in Augu~t 1997.
The Georgia Solid Waste Annual Report is compiled by DCA with input and information from EPD, P2AD and GEFA. It analyzes results of the Solid Waste Management Survey and Full Cost Report completed annually by local governments and updates the status of State and local government solid waste planning activities; the remaining capacity of existing landfills; the number and types of solid waste grants and loans made to local governments; and progress achieved in solid waste management education.
If you would like to receive a full copy of the report, contact Renita Davis at (404) 679-4922 or rdavis@dca.state.ga.us.

Interesting Facts From the 1997 SWM Annual Report
The use of green boxes (large, unmanned collection bins) is still widespread in Georgia, with 64 counties and 39 cities using them. Among them, these local governments service a total of9,525 green boxes, or an average of93 per government.
Many local governments turn to alternative labor sources for processing recyclables. Inmate labor is used by 33% of counties and 12% of cities with residential recycling services. Community service workers are used by 28% of counties and 11 % of cities.
Newspapers were the most commonly accepted recyclable for both residents and businesses. Aluminum was second for residents, and corrugated cardboard was second for businesses.
MoSt local governments that collected yard trimmings chipped them into mulch (63%) or composted them (24%). More 'than a third sent them to inert landfills. (Local governments often used more than one method of handling yard trimmings.)
Local governments reported a full cost of $363 million for solid waste services in FY97. That was $24.90 per person for counties and $74.52 per person for cities.
A major issue to be addressed is funding for solid waste management activities. The one dollar fee charged at the purchase of new tires is scheduled to end in 2000. The fee generates about $6 million annually and funds most State solid waste management grants and activities.

1998 GEFA Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Awards

1998 GEFA Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Awards

Community Name

:AYlard. Project Description

community Name

.Award : . Project Description

Alpharetta Athens-Clarke County Atlanta Dept. of Parks Baldwin County Barrow County
Butts County Camilla Carroll County Centralhatchee Chattooga County Conyers
Dade county

$25,POO. Implement apay.as.you-throw program

$25',000 Establish additional recycling drop-off collection sites

. $14;990 . Develop inventory system for reuse program

$25,ooo'. Expand recycling program

.$25~00 Implement home composting program and tire

recycling



$2S;()pp . Develop countywide convenience/recycling center

:$2S;QOO Purchase specialized equipment for recycling program

:.$25,0QO Construct recycling convenience center . $2~;oqo Construct recycling convenience center
$2~;000 Establjsh and equip recycling locations {$2~,0oO Enhance commercial recycling program; purchase . . containers for ace
J2~;p()() . Erect four fenced facilities to house household garbage
and recycling bins

Douglas County .Floyd county
Folkston Forsyth county,
Haralson county Harris county
Heard County Jackson county Jones county Lincolnton Lowndes County

:$5f32~ Promote backyard composting to residents
sso:ooo Purchase two roll-off containers, two 18-foot trailers, and two 14foot trailers

I

; $21,QOO. Implement multiactivity waste reduction program

$1~.979; Purchase two recycling containers and improve -
recycling center

]'.,

$25,000. Construct recycling convenience center

'I

. $40,000. Purchase sixrolloff containers and six glass crushers >,,;: "~ ' . for two dropoff centers '$25~000 construct recycling conveniencecenter

i:$24,463 Purchase wood chipper for composting program

' $'25;QQO; Complete two recycling convenience centers

s2s,ooo; Expand recycling facility

$5,'28o: Purchase two recycling igloos for aluminum cans and plastic bottles

Dalton-Whitfield county $50,00Q, Purchase bailer for cardboard products and carpet scraps associated with industry

Dodge Cqunty

~25,ddg ; Purchase five recycling trailers

Madison county McDuffie County

s2s,ooo Purchase recycling trailers, forklift, dump trailer

$75,f.OOQ
' . . . ' ,~

Make 1/2mile track from recycled tire and rubber products

6

. - - - , - -:: .7:-:-~.;.-.7~-- ,.-;,--.-

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
H~liday Promotions Can Save Time and Conserve Landfill Space, Too

The holiday season offers an To help you promote ULS contact Bob Lilienfeld, editor of retailers already recycle boxes,

interesting predicament to Day in your community; T h e U L S R e p o r t, a t so accepting residential OCC

people who are trying to reduce organizers are offeringa packet (734) 668-1690 oruls@cygnus- during Boxing Days is a logical

waste. On .the one hand, the with public service announce- group.com.

extension that shows

people of our nation are most ments for radio and "Swiss "wasteful" between Thanks~ cheese press releases," which Boxing Days

consumers what they have been doing all along to help the

giving and New Year's, are written with bl"anks so you Boxing Days, a national environment.

throwing away an extra one can fill in information specific recovery . event aimed at To learn more or to enroll in

million tons per week.

to your community's program. increasing the recycling of the program, contact Cheryl

On the other hand, The packet will also provide corrugated packaging, begins Young at (401) 732-1886.

everyone-including each of background information on the each year the day after According to CPC, participants

us-is busy with shopping and program, suggested ULS Day Christmas and ends on the will need a variety ofcollection

baking and fretting, so we don't activities and lists of other second Saturday of January. and promotion capabilities, as

have time to go out and

, participants. Closer The fifth annual event, well as a few tons of

design a lot of ed-

to the event, a check- sponsored by the Corrugated enthusiasm.

ucation programs for our communities.

list for rating your Packaging Council (CPC), will holiday "wasteline" be December 26, 1998 through Bring One for the Chipper

Here are three

will be released, January 9, 1999.

When the needles start to fall

opportunities to take

along with a list of 42 Named after a traditional from the tree after the holiday

thework that someone

ways to improve your British and Canadian gift-giving season is behind us, don't forget

else has done and use

score.

holiday, Boxing Days provides about one of the most

it effectively in your hometow: Past ULS Day events have an opportunity for

s u c c e s sf u 1

Use Less Stu.ffDay

ranged from placing simple community informational brochures at residents to

environmental projects that is

The Fourth Annual ULS Day libraries, to providing reusable recycle the

held every year.

(Use Less Stuff Day), will be coffee mugs to employees; to ' extra corrugat-

"Bring One For

held November 19', 1998-:-the presenting "Shop Used First ed packaging

the Chipper" is the

Thursday before Thanks- Fashion Shows," featuring left over after

annual Christmas

giving. The ULS Report, EPA clothing from consignment the holiday

tree recycling

and KAB expect to be joined by shops and used clothing stores. season.

event sponsored

more than 250 organizations to For more infdrmation on Participating

by DCA, The Home

raise public awareness about ULS Day, visit the website at communities .

Depot, Georgia

holiday waste.

www.cygnus-group.com or receive a BoxingDays kit with Power, Georgia-Pacific, The

a step-by-step implementation Davey Tree Expert Company

guide, as well as logistical and and WXIA-TV.

1998 GEFA Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Awards

educational/promotional The date of the ninth annual

Community Name

AWard Project Description

materials and assistance from "Bring One for the Chipper"

Monroe County Morgan County
Mount Vernon Nahunta

, ~~0.060 Construct arecovered materials processing facility $25.ooo.: Equip five recyclable materials collection.centers with
. roll-on/roll-off containers
. s10.otiO Purchase recycling trailer and truck
;~~d.Qo.ti.\ Install fiberglass containers for recyGling

the CPC. Past educational materials have included T-shirts or sweatshirts for community volunteers, signage for drop-off centers and local retail counters, street banners, corrugated

has been set for January 9, 1999, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Information was mailed out during the first week of October to all mayors, city and county managers, county

Nicholls

$9[300 Purchase abrush chipper for composting program

instructional hand-outs, re- com-mission chairpersons,

Oconee County

. $4,6&3. Purchase dumpsters with waterproof lids for seven frigerator magnets and decals, recycling coordinators and

, , "-, '.f" schools

-

and even corrugated structures last year's event coord-

Oglethorpe ~ounty

$2s;OOQ Build three staffed waste and recycling collection sites like teepees and forts erected in inators. The deadline for

Royston

: $20,QOP.'. Initiate curbside collection of recyclables in the city public schools and libraries. signing up to host an event is

Senoia

:~Jfsoti conduct education programs and advertising to Schools also get a fun video October 21.

; . promote recycling program

created. specifically to explain .Participating communities

Soperton Spalding county

. {~~SOD Purchase brush chipper and recycling container

.the program to kids.

$25,otio. Purchase equipment/convert unmanned sites into

Local merchants are

manned collection centers

encouraged to join in the effort

will receive posters, signs, media kits and free tree seedlings to hand out to tree

Troup County

$:2s:oocr Construct one manned convenience center and provide by distributing or displaying recyclers. Check with your

~

,>.



'0

1 _,

r~cycling containers

educational meterials, accepting community leaders for more

Valdosta

J2s,oqoj Enclose and add space and equipment to currentfacility old corrugated containers information, or contact David

Walton county

.<$2s:;:o;.6'6;:;

Purchase recycling convenience centers

containers for five

proposed

(OCC) on-site or helping publicize the event. Most

Smith at (404) 679-3144 or dsrnith@dca.state.ga.us.

7

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNALFALL1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . . . , - - - - - -

Planning Makes Life Easier After N,atural Disasters

No one is ever completely prepared for a natural disaster. However, just as families plan which room to take cover in during a tornado, local governments can make preliminary plans for these events.
A major concern for local governments after any kind of natural disaster is debris. A single night of tornadoes can generate tons of waste materials that must somehow be collected and made to "go away."
To complicate matters, this waste is often a hodgepodge of materials, making any kind of separation for disposal difficult. The waste may also be contaminated with hazardous materials.
To ease clean up and disposal, some Georgia local governments are beginning to contemplate these issues before the disaster strikes. These planning efforts can help local governments to dispose of waste in the most rapid, efficient and environmentally responsible way possible.
Albany-Dougherty: The Problem of Contamination
Like many local governments, it was a crisis that prompted the City of Albany and Dougherty County to consider waste disposal plans. In 1994, much of Albany was submerged after a severe flood. Exacerbating the situation, the local wastewater treatment plant flooded, contaminating the floodwaters. Most homes stood in eight feet of contaminated water for 10 days.
At the time, the city did not have a plan for handling this waste. However, even.without a plan, the area mobilized quickly according to Judy Bowles, executive director of Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful. A command center and hotline were established

immediately. Volunteers were dispatched from that center to help residents with cleaning out their homes. In order to speed disposal, re~idents were required to separate waste into three piles: white goods, tires/ batteries and other debris.
Unfortunately, virtually all of the waste material was contaminated by sewage. According to Bowles, contamination is a major factor in disposing of waste

command center to inform residents about separating their waste. This time, since there was no contamination, the local governments were able to salvage much more material. For example, nearly all of the wood waste.was suitable for chipping.
Douglasville: The Problem of Volume
In 1991, Douglasville was struck by a tornado that

A tornado clipped acres oftrees throughout the north metro Atlanta area this spring, creating tons ofdebris.

after floods. If materials are contaminated, it is difficult to salvage most items. AlbanyDougherty was able to salvage the metals from white goods, but ail other waste had to be landfilled. Fortunately, the community was granted an emergency six-month extension for their closing C&D landfill.
The response to the '94 flood has been used as a model for handling future disasters. When Albany flooded again this year, the community was better prepared. According to Bowles, "Just like anything, if you've done it before, it's a lot easier."
The flood was much smallei; this time, affecting only 500 homes. However, the city still followed the same procedures. They established a hotline and

damaged much of the downtown area. In response, the city drafted an Unusual Occurrence Plan in May 1991. The plan outlines the procedures to be followed "during occurrences of a natural or manmade nature that pose a threat to persons or property." The plan is primarily interested in ways to seal off areas during potentially dangerous situations and is applicable to everything from tornadoes to a hostage crisis.
There are no specific provisions in the plan related to waste disposal; however, when tornadoes struck in June of this year, the plan was implemented. The area damaged by the tornadoes was sealed off within 45 minutes,

allowing crews to remove debris from the affected areas very quickly.
Douglasville already utilizes those sentenced. by courts to community service to clean up litter in the city. Using them to help clean up after the storm was just a "natural extension" according to Bill Osborne, the city manageL Owners and volunteers were responsible for clearing private property, but once debris was in the street, the city utilized community service workers to remove it.
Unfortunately, Douglasville .suffered from a problem similar to the contamination issue faced by AlbanyDougherty. The city has the capability to chip wood debris, but. in this instance, the volume was too great. Taking time to chip the. wood would have diverted resources from the cleanup efforts. Therefore, the community was forced to send the tornado debris to a landfill. In the future the city hopes to utilize the chipper to decrease its waste stream after a disaster.
Gwinnett County: Privatizing Debris Removal
Like Douglasville and many of metro Atlanta's .northern counties, Gwinnett County was struck by tornadoes earlier this year. Gwinnett's system for dealing with wood waste after such storms is to contract with private firms to chip and reuse it.
When the County experienced storms this spring, the Board of Commissioners contracted with Johnny Smith and Grubbs Construction Company to dispose of wood waste throughout the county. The two companies were responsible for collecting and chipping the wood, then finding markets to reuse the

8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

resulting chips. Private Make a list of the types of

landowners who signed debris you could expect after

special waivers were eligible a disaster including items such

to have the contractors collect as wood/tree waste, white

waste from their property and goods, metals, shingles,

pull up stumps.

carpet, linoleum, concrete,

Most of the other storm tires, batteries, chemicals and

waste was sent to private hazardous materiaJs. Compile

landfills by the county. a listing of companies that

Because the waste was created accept each of these materials

by a natural disaster, the and the conditions under

Federal Emergency Man- which they are accepted. Be

agement Authority paid for the certain to determine if there is

tipping fees. Individual a minimum amount required

property owners handled and if the company will pick

recyclable debris such as up the materials. The

shingles and metals at their Recycling Markets Directory

own discretion. Connie published by DCA can help

Wiggins, director of Gwinnett you do this. Update the list at

. Clean and Beautiful, directed least once a year, and keep it

property owners to businesses accessible, so you will know

that would accept some of immediately after a disaster

these materials for recycling. where you can send materials.

Developing A Plan

Plan for the problem of contamination. If sewage or

"While emergency plans other materials contaminate

have been helpful in the your debris, what can you

aftermath of disasters, they' salvage? Can you remove the

could have been more effective metal from white goods? Will

in terms of waste a private company separate

management," said Rick some materials such as metals

Brooks, director of DCA's from wood? If your waste is

Planning and Environmental contaminated and you must

. Management Division. "Few landfill it, where can you send

local governments have well- it? Be sure to ideritify all of

developed emergency waste your options.

disposal plans, but all of them

could benefit from the

development of such a Traveling Birthday

system."



.

Here are some ways local Bash for Keep

governments can make it Georgia Beautiful

easier to deal with wastes and

recyclables after a disaster:

Continuedfrom page 12

First you should examine

your current waste stream.

What kinds of waste are most common in your area? For example, do you have a great deal of agricultural or industrial waste? Your waste

Crisp County students sign the six-foot tall, eight-foot wide and 32-pound traveling
birthday card.

stream after a disaster will

contain .many of the same "CoastFest '98" in Brunswick

components as your normal and the "Mule Camp Springs

waste stream.

Fair" in Gainesville. In other

You should also consider cities, the bus participated in a

the kinds of waste that are variety of special events and

likely to increase after various activities organized by the local

disasters, including flooding, Keep America Beautifulaffiliates

hurricanes. and. tornadoes. to raise awareness of local

Consider the problem of How will you want them to

volume. Do you have the separate their waste?

resources to effectively" Obviously you cannot plan

manage large volumes of for every specific situation,

materials quickly, or wiil but consider developing a

you be forced to landfill waste separation plan that

them due to lack of capacity? would work in a variety of

Is there someplace where circumstances. Cons.ider

you could stockpile keeping press releases with

materials until you had the the necessary information on

time to dispose of them? You hand at local newspapers,

could, for example, stockpile radio stations and television

wood waste and chip it later. stations. Also consider

Investigate the possibility of establishing a hotline for

contracting with private citizens tO c.all during an

companies or neighboring emergency.

communities who might be Examine the potential

able to handle the greater long-term effects to your

volume:

community. What can you do

Develop a plan for col- to plan for reforestation, soil

lecting and removing waste. erosion or similar problems?

What city/county departments Finally, review, evaluate

will be involved? Is it possible and improve your plan. After

for you to utilize alternative an emergency, carefully

labor sources such as examine your response. Are

community service workers? there components that did

Create a clear chain of not work or could have

authority outlining who will operated more smoothly?

be in charge of cleanup efforts How can you improve the

and the order in which plan for the next time?

departments, and individuals Constantly evaluating and

are to be notified.

updating your plan will help

Develop a public edu- you to tailor your emergency

cation system. How will you response to your

alert the public about waste community's needs, making

disposal after a disaster? it as effective as possible.

environmental accomplishments. Additionally, at every stop of
the tour, Keep Georgia Beautiful displayed a giant "Happy 20th Birthday!" card for the public to sign. The signers received "20 Ways To Become a Hometown Hero"

pledge cards containing easy, common sense tips for reducing unnecessary waste and lltter.
The birthday card was presented at the celebration in Centennial Olympic Park before hundreds oflocal elected officials, state leaders and business executives from throughout the state. Ray Empson, president ofKAB, and John Hankinson, regional adininistrator for EPA Region IV, addressed the crowd of wellwishers.
And what exactly is Keep Georgia Beautiful's birthday wish?
"I wish for Georgia to be the cleanest state in the nation," said Cobb, "and for Keep Georgia Beautiful to lead the way."

9

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNALFALL1998 - - - - , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL
is published quarterly by the . Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Funding for this publication is provided by the Georgia Solid Waste Trust Fund.

DCA Solid Waste Assistance

RICK BROOKS

Director Planning & Environmental Management Division .... (404) 679-0608

RoBINMEYER

Director Office of Waste Management ................................,..... (404) 679-4816

LYNN COBB

Manager Keep Georgia Beautiful ............................................... (404) 679-4910

RACHEL COCHRAN Constulant ..................................................................................... (404) 679-4998 SWM Technical Assistance (Full Cost Accounting, Ordinances, Variable Rates, etc.), Solid Waste Planning

We welcome any comments, RENITA DAVIS

Consultant ..................................................................................... (404) 679-4922

criticisms or suggestions for

SWM Technical Assistance (Ywd Trimmings Diversion),

future editions. News releases

SW Public Information, SW Annual Report, The Waste Stream Journal
"

are welcome. We can't guarantee BONNIE FRYER Consultant and GHEP Project Coordinator ................................... (404) 679-1598

we will publish all releases, but

Waste Reduction Assistance for Hospitality Industry

we do wish to report significant waste reduction news from the state and the region.

PATTI INSINNA RHONDA KOPLIN

Research Assistant ......................................................................... (404) 679-1739 Consultant ..................................................................................... (404) 679-3152

Education Training, Keep Georgia Beautiful

Please send releases and correspondence to: Editor The Waste Stream Journal Georgia Department of Corpmunity Affairs 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4922 (404) 679-0572 (FAX) rdavis@dca.state.ga.us

KAREN SABATINI State Recycling Coordinator .......................................................... (404) 679-3161

SWM Technical Assistance (Recycling, Variable Rates, Buy Recycled)

DAVID SMITH

Consultant ............~ .......................................................................:.. (404) 679-3144 Special Projects (Christmas Tree Recycling, Statewide Litter Reduction Campaign, Home Composting), Keep Georgia Beautiful

BERENICE THOMAS Secretary ..................................................................................... (404) 679-3142

PATRICK VICKERS Sr: Information Specialist, Office of Research and Analysis ........ (404) 679-3151 SWM Survey and Full Cost Report

You may compose any DCA employee's e-mail address by using his/her first initial and last name (up to eight characters total) followed by "@dca.state.ga.us".

Check Out rx:::::'..A:'s . Web Site
www.dca.state.ga.us
& KEEP GEORGIA BEAUTIFUL'S Web Site
www.KeepGeorgiaBeautiful.org

..DQA_~s J>rfj.te.or."W~ste~
.MaJl!!gemen1 e:xtep.!}$ a,
Visser; :ultimate .SJ?.ecil!f fhanks to_; ~~rah ~' tll:e
..~:;~~ei:!ei~~~::u::~.

lThe Waste Str:eam. Jo11rnal.

','

,'

,, ' , ' '

,))'o',

'

'

'

ACRONYMS COMMONLY USED IN
THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL
C&O Construction and Demolition DCA Georgia Department of Community Affairs DNR Georgia Department of Natural Resources DOT Georgia Department of Transportation EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPD Georgia Environmental Protection Division (DNR) GEFA Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority GHEP Georgia Hospitality Environmental Partnership (DCA) KAR Keep America Beautiful, Inc. MRF Materials Recovery Facility MSW Municipal Solid Waste P2AD Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance Division {DNR) RDC Regional Development Center SWM Solid Waste Management

CALENDAR OF EVENTS [Hij lil:]; j1

213
1018 1416 2123 24 2630

Keep Georgia Beautiful Bus Tour of Georgia Keep Georgia Beautiful 20th Birthday Party, Atlanta Seventh Annual Georgia River Cleanup Week Compost Facility Operator Training Workshop, Athens Georgia Recycling coalition Annual Meeting, Callaway Gardens Georgia Adopt-A:stream Conference, Columbus wastecon, Charlotte, NC

ll'(illjjl~l:J=j1

15 America Recycles Day 19 "Use Less stuff" Day

lilaH*~l:Bi1
26 Boxing Days Promotion begins

~ t:W ll Mffi
9 "Bring One For The Chipper" Christmas Tree Recycling
9 Boxing Days Promotion ends

Iii:iiilfrl ji'i

TBA KAB Institute, Phase II, Athens

10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' - - - - - GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

COMMUNITY NEWS

.

.

.

P lease let us know what is happening in your community. Send your brief submissions (100 words or less) to: Editor,

The Waste Stream Journal, Georgia Department of Community

Affairs, 60 Executive Park South, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329

or fax them to us at (404) 679-0572. You may also give Renita

Davis your community news at (404) 679-4922 or

rdavis@dca.state.ga.us.

Athens- Athens-Clarke County built it, and they came. Groups Clarke from North Carolina and Columbia, South America, C ty have traveled to Georgia to see the award~winning
oun solid waste management program ACC implemented
in 1995. The North Carolina group included local government officials from Orange County and the cities of Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. The Columbia, South America contingent included architects, civil engineers, ecologists and students currently studying at UGA. Both groups were interested in the waste reduction projects, pay-as-you-throw program, and MRF.

Public
WFTALKJN' TRASH from page I
***
Employees collecting garbage for the Scottsdale, Ariz., Solid Waste Division aren't mere "sanitation engineers." .As part of the new Scottsdale Eyes and Ears program~ they are als9 partners with the city police department. Workers have been trained on types of
Private
WFTALKIN' TRASH from page I

Canton The City of Canton is hosting a free seminar on - - - composting in October. The seminar will teach residents to recycle household waste into soil amendment and offer composting bins for $5.

Cobb The Bedminster composting.facility in Cobb County County reopened in June, two years after its initial opening,
about 22 months after it was closed because of odor complaints from neighbors, and 18 months after most of it was destroyed by fire. Cobb. officials restarted the plant slowly, operating at only 3 percent of capacity. It wilLgradu~lly build to 300 tons of solid waste and 150 tons of sludge per day. The County spent $12 million to rebuild and upgrade the plant.
Crisp Crisp County's composting facility celebrated its grand County opening with fanfare in July. The facility will take
solid waste from 42 local governments in_ southwest Georgia. About 1,250 tons per daywill go through a MRF, where recyclables and compostables will be separated from items that must be discarded. When it is operating at full capacity, the facility is expected to produce 300 tons of compost per day. As of late July, more than 4,000 tons of materials were already under the curing sheds.

Decatur The City ofDecatur implemented a pay-as-you-throw. trash collection program in July. In the volume-based
program, residents purchase special plastic bags with the city logo from local supermarkets, hardware stores _and other outlets. The 33-gallon bags cost $1, and the 15 gallon bags are 50 cents. Additionally, each of the City's 5,600 households pays a $140 per year flat fee.

Roberta/ Keep Roberta/Crawford Beautiful was selected as the

Crawford winning entry in the "Public Sector, population less

County than 100,000" category of the American Forest &



Paper Association's Best Paper Recycling Awards for

1998. Finalists in the category were the City of Reading, PA,

and Madison County, NY. Keep Roberta/Crawford Beautiful

received a $2,000 check for their efforts.

would be the first in a series to be built across the country.
***
Recyclights, a mercury recovery company, has recently opened a transfer station in Atlanta. Based in Minneapolis, the company has been serving Georgia through its Tallahassee reclamation facility since 1994. Recyclights hopes to recover some of the 10 million mercury.:bearing lamps disposed of annually in Georgia, as well as PCB ballasts, batteries and other mercury-containing devices. For more information, please contact Jay Schlotthauer at (800) 831,-2850 or or Austin Harris at (800) 831-2852 or visit the company's website at www.recyclights.com.
***
Planning is underway for the next Southeastern Recycling Investment Conference. The conference will be held in late August 1999 in Charleston. Recycling business owners who are lo,aking for investment capital should begin submitting business plans in the spring. For more information, contact Ted Campbell at (803) 737-0477.
***

suspicious activity to look for and the types of information police dispatchers need. Their twice weekly trips on every city street, the birdseye view afforded by their trucks, and their tendency to travel on back roads and alleys give them opportunties to spot suspicious activities the average resident or police officer might not see.
According to Waste News, Caraustar Industries, Inc. has purchased Etowah Recycling, Inc. Etowah has locations in Canton and Hardeeville, S.C. and is involved in processing recovered paper fibers. The co-owners of Etowah will remain with the company as president and vice-president.
***
In Japan, Yoshida and Company, which owns 30 Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants, has found a way to reuse cooking oil. According to BioCycle, the company has contracted with Pacific Biodiesel to construct a facility that will process used cooking oil Into biodiesel fuel. This fuel can then be used to heat the restaurants.
***
A Lawrenceville litterbug got in "Mounds" of trouble when his half-eaten Baby Ruth candy bar hit a competitive cyclist. According to a pun-filled article in the Atlanta JournalConstitution, the jury decided the injured man should have a "Payday" and awarded him $200 for medical bills, $180 for lost wages and $620 for pain and suffering, for a total of $1,000-a sumthat could buy 1,538 Baby Ruths at 65 cents each.

11

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNALFALL1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Keep Georgia Beautiful Birthday Bus Tours Georgia
HOMETOWN HEROES RECOGNIZED ALONG THE WAY
What's 40-feet long, 12-feet tall and covered with lots of balloons and confetti?
It's the world's largest traveling birthday card-the Keep Georgia Beautiful "Happy 20th Birthday" bus. The bus crisscrossed Georgia on a 12-day,

Beautiful affiliates play in developing and coordinating effective local community environmental activities and programs, such as litter prevention.
The bus started its tour at Keep Georgia Beautiful's annual Executive Directors Conference at Red Top Mountain State Park. _The park's entire staff joined the 45 KAB executive directors to send it on its way.
"If their reactions are an indication, this will be a public awareness event like none

GeorgiaBeautiful. "You just can't ignore a birthday cake and confetti when they're that bright, that big and they're moving down the highway."
The 40-foot long bus was wrapped with more than 1,000 square feet of high tech; self-adhesive. vinyl. The vinyl was covered with big, colorful graphics, turning the bus into an oversized travel!ng birthday card.
The birthdaybus visited a number of Georgia's fall festivals and fairs,

2,000 mile trip to raise awareness of the other," said Lynn Cobb, manager of Keep .importance of preserving and protecting

See TRAVELING on page 9: I&

Georgia's natural resources and

environment. The tour ended with a

birthday celebration at Atlanta's

Centennial Olympic Park on October 13.

Keep Georgia Beautiful, founded in

1978 as the first state affiliate of Keep

America Beautiful, honored Georgia's

"Hometown Heroes" during the 28-city birthday celebration tour. The heroes are individuals and businesses that are

Workers "wrap"Keep Georgia Beautiful's Birthday Bus.

actively involvedin improving the quality

of life in their communities.

The tour also spotlighted the key role

that Georgia's local Keep America

THE WASTE STREAM JOURNAL
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, GA 30329-2231
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