The Cleanest County In Georgia? We can be.....

For several weeks now, the news in Oconee County has covered the issues regarding the Garrett's Construction Recycling Facility and also the efforts of Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission. 
Also in the news recently, a letter I wrote was published in the Oconee Enterprise about KOCBC's new Youth Advisory Group, Clean Community Coalition, which is largely made up of NOHS's Go Green Team, prizewinners for the most litter picked up at last weeks event.
In last weeks issue of the Enterprise, the subject of their editorial was about the fight against the Garrett's facility, and the admonishing of the general public about not wanting to get it's hands dirty, while most agree that recycling is beneficial.
Preaching to the choir on that one!  That editorial hit home to all of us involved in KOCBC and CCC.  
This note is not only to say, "here, here!" or "AMEN!"...but also to bring attention to the fact that the citizens of Oconee and need to wake up and pay attention to what we have here in our TREASURE of a community.
Another article about Transferable Development rights pointed out that Oconee is leader in our state for getting these Farmland Protection Programs in place!  In no small part due to one of my heroes, Russ Page, that relentless bulldog of an advocate!  I love that man!
So, here we have our lovely Oconee County, leader in the state in preserving farmland, Progressive Farmer Magazines three time choice of  "The Best Place to Live ... Raise a Family" , and people flocking from all areas of the country to live here and be a part of our award-winning school system.  This is a lot to be proud of!  
Yet, still, litter marks our pastoral landscapes everywhere you turn.  Our county pays tens of thousands of dollars a year, that's TAX DOLLARS FOLKS,  in our roads department budget for litter pick up.  You can't look out your window anywhere...on any road...in Oconee County and not see disgusting litter.
Another fact is that MOST of what you see roadside....IS RECYCLEABLE!
Recycling Creates Jobs, Litter Cost Tax Dollars.  It's that simple.
How wonderful would it be for there to be no need for litter pick up in our counties budget?  What if that money could go to more important community-minded projects?
How wonderful would it be if we were able to boast "OCONEE COUNTY, THE CLEANEST COUNTY IN GEORGIA"  

How proud would we all be if many new jobs were created in our region around recycling?
There are currently over 7000 jobs in the state of Georgia that revolve around recycling.  Georgia has the largest carpet manufacturing facility  in the country creating carpeting from recycled bottles which are shipped in from Yellowstone National Park!
We are fortunate in our county to be next door to Athens Clark Recycling Facility, a state-of-the-art revenue producing, resource saving, thriving business run by one of the most dynamic advocates in the world for recycling, Suki Jansen, and Oconee Native.
The aim of Clean Community Coalition is to inform the public of all the benefits of recycling and reducing roadside litter.  
Soon we will be creating a pledge that we hope everyone in Oconee County will sign.  

Pay attention, Oconee!  Get Involved, even if in just a tiny way.  Adopt-A-Spot, Adopt-A-Mile, and most importantly, stop litter at it's source.  Recycle.  Reuse.
While we at KOCBC were pleased with the results of our latest event and the great attitudes of all who attended, the sad fact remains is that we had 35 people involved in a county with over 32,000 people!  Despite massive advertising and attention drawn to our event, that small turnout was a disappointment to all of us who worked so hard to put the day together.
I have no doubt that we can claim Oconee is THE CLEANEST COUNTY IN GEORGIA in a very short amount of time if we will ALL make an effort to make a difference.  It doesn't take much.
Contact Angela Helwig (ahelwig@oconee.ga.us) or Mary Mellein (mrmellein@bellsouth.net) for more information on Adopt-A-Spot or Adopt-A-Mile.  
DO IT TODAY!
Sincerely,
Melissa Steele