Clean Community Coalition

With the blessings of the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission members, I recently helped to create a Youth Advisory Council which, so far, includes five NOHS "Go Green" Club students, another KOCBC Board member, Rebecca Billings, and myself.  Other KOCBC members have also participated in our various events and meetings. 

 We hope our group will continue to grow to include students from other area schools as we promote ourselves on our Facebook page, website, and in newspaper articles by creating and participating in events such as The Great American Cleanup in Oconee and Adopt-A-Mile pick-ups.  

 We are calling ourselves Clean Community Coalition, and our goal is to change the perception of the problem of litter to an opportunity to recycle and become good stewards of our planet.  Many thanks to The Oconee Enterprise for agreeing to support us with a weekly 1” x 2” ad in which we will be promoting educational facts regarding litter, what it costs, and recycling, what it creates.  

 Another goal is to boost community pride by inviting citizens to help us create “The Cleanest County In Georgia” by doing their part to eliminate roadside litter.  The program will encourage Adopt-A-Mile, Adopt-A-Spot, and other beneficial tips such as reduce/reuse/recycle.  

Litter COSTS Georgia Taxpayers over $14 MILLION DOLLARS per year in clean up costs and problems created within the sewer and water systems when trash washes into drainage areas and waste water facilities.  Much more information on how litter costs taxpayers can be reviews at this amazing website.

One only has to look out of ones car window to see what a problem it is in our county and all over Georgia, including massive amounts of cigarette butts at every stop sign and red light in Oconee County.  

The good news is, Recycling CREATES JOBS!  According to Southeastern Recycling Development Council's latest report, Georgia's various recycling companies collectively employ more than 7,000 people and see a sales volume exceeding $4.5 billion per year!  Not to mention the wisdom of conserving natural resources by re-using materials.

We at KOCBC are hoping for a record turnout at this years Great American Cleanup In Oconee on April 20th.  Please contact me, or Executive Director Angela Helwig at 706-769-5120 if you or your group would like to participate.

 MAKE AN EFFORT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!