Everyone likes free stuff - and members of Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful know this.

During the Labor Day weekend anyone who purchases a 12-pack of any beverage at participating Georgia Convenience Station Association gas stations in the area will receive a complimentary koozie and car litter bag from KCNB.

The initiative is part of KCNB's "Only Losers Litter" campaign.

"This is one of the slogans shaken out of a state-wide initiative to reach a target demographic," said Connie Waller, KCNB executive director.

Waller explained research shows the group who litters most is males ages 18 to 24.

"A lot of times it's hard to communicate with that age group since many of them don't read the newspaper or follow our Seymore Green commercials on TV," Waller said. "It's a tough demographic, and this is our effort to reach that demographic."

Waller hopes KCNB will become even more visible after receiving grant money from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Five organizations in region 4, which covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, were awarded grants.

The grant is designed "to support projects that enhance the public's awareness and knowledge of environmental issues, provide them with skills to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions to protect the environment."

Waller said the money will go toward their educational programs for both children and adults.

"We are thrilled," Waller said.

In other news from KCNB:

· Sept. 1 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. county residents can bring pesticides, paints and electronics to the county landfill for KCNB's Hazardous Household Wastes and E-cycling event. KCNB will now host this event on the first Saturday of the month. It used to happen annually. All waste must be labeled. Televisions and commercial waste cannot be accepted.

· All county recycling centers will be closed on Labor Day. They will be open at their regular hours of operation on Tuesday. Dumping outside the centers' gates is illegal and punishable in county environmental court.