Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful has received $1,000 from Keep America Beautiful, part of a nationwide effort sponsored by Nestlé Waters North America to encourage plastic bottle recycling during the 2010 Great American Cleanup.

The cleanup campaign, which is held March 1 through May 31 each year, is the nation’s largest community improvement program, according to a release. There were 266 million bottles recycled last year. Newton County accounted for 79,760 pounds of plastic to the campaign.

Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful provides environmental education programs in Newton County. The group will begin its Great American Cleanup campaign this year with an event on March 26. Learn more at www.kcnb.biz.

"We’re so happy to receive this award and appreciate the opportunity to let the public know about our environmental programs and recycling in our community," said Sara Vinson, the local group’s recycling committee chair and a member of the executive board.