Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful closed a very "green year" on a high note as the winner of a Keep Georgia Beautiful Governors Circle Award. KCRB's efforts in 2014 included several environmental stewardship events with the goal of educating the public about the importance of litter prevention, beautification, waste minimization, and the benefits of improved livability.

The County recently participated in the 2014 Rivers Alive Cleanup on Oct. 11. More than 200 volunteers, including 122 youth, from local schools, church groups, civic organizations, scout troops, small families, and individuals cleaned up local waterways, parks, illegal dumpsites, schools, subdivisions, roadways, Albert Shoals, and other locations. The cleanup removed 10,680 pounds of garbage and 14 tires, and covered about 5.81 miles of waterways.
In September, KCRB hosted a county-wide Recycling Month featuring a cell phone recycling drive and electronics recycling and paper shredding event. Rockdale residents took advantage of these events to clear their homes of unneeded or unused cell phones, electronics and paper. This event diverted 8,700 pounds of paper and 11,603 pounds of metal, plastic, glass, computer housings, and peripheral equipment from local landfills.

Additionally, several locations across Rockdale were spruced up with the help of more than 190 volunteers in May as part of the Great American Cleanup. KCRB, families, individuals, businesses, schools and more than 20 community groups removed 80 tires and 15.29 tons of trash in the County. Fifteen KCRB Advisory Council members and volunteers donated a collective 422 hours of service, saving the County $9,516 in labor costs.

In April, Keep America Beautiful awarded to KCRB for the second year in a row its President's Circle Award at a national conference in Charlotte, NC. The award recognizes exemplary performance made by certified affiliates of the national nonprofit in building and sustaining vibrant communities.

Through public-private partnerships and strategic alliances with citizens, businesses and government, KCRB's efforts continue to motivate hundreds of volunteers each year to clean up, beautify and improve Rockdale County, thereby creating safer and more livable environments.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities and event information, please email kcrb@rockdalecounty.org or call 770-278-7052.