Empowering Atlanta’s Communities to Sustain Cleaner and Greener Neighborhoods



Keep Atlanta Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., serves Atlanta by developing and implementing public education and community improvement programs that make a cleaner and greener Atlanta. These initiatives enhance the quality of life and economic development in the community by instilling pride in community ownership and a behavior change that seeks improvements in littering, recycling, beautification, and natural resource conservation.


Ongoing Programs

Grady/Midtown eWaste Recycling EVERY third Saturday of the month

Notice: Due to the upcoming Digital TV Transition, there will be a $10 drop off fee for all TVs.

Every 3rd Saturday of the month, Midtown Atlanta neighbors can bring their eWaste to the parking lot of Grady High School on 8th Street.
In Partnership with: Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Midtown Neighbors' Association, Grady High School, Georgia E-Waste & Pratt Industries.

See how it's gone so far!
Click Here for more info (PDF)


Phone Book Recycling Tip

Did you know you can recycle your phone books at the curbside in the City of Atlanta? Even better, you can opt out of receiving the AT&T Real White Pages, the Companion (if applicable) or the AT&T Real Yellow Pages.  The New Toll Free number is 866-329-7118.

More info on what to recycle at the curbside (Applies to City of Atlanta residents only. Contact your local department of sanitation for information on recycling in other municipalities.)


Graffiti Hurts
New Graffiti ordinances were recently passed by the Atlanta City Council. Find out what you need to know if your home or business is ever struck by this malicious violation of property owners’ rights. Read More (PDF)

Earth Day 2009 Activities and Events
Stepping Lightly in Atlanta Awards Contest

The Stepping Lightly in Atlanta Awards Contest is proudly presented by:

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

This year's finalists in the Stepping Lightly in Atlanta Awards Contest answered the call to think globally, act locally in their schools and communities. read on >>

GRAND PRIZE: Fayetteville Intermediate School, Talented and Gifted Program
WINNER--HIGH SCHOOL: Alfretta Harper Elementary, Harper Explorers Club
WINNER--ELEMETARY: Marist School, Marist Environmental Club
WSB-TV PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD:Imagine Wesley International Academy, Mrs. Kraften's 1st Grade Class

View projects and videos >>


Earth Day BeltLine Cleanup
beltline cleanup
A huge thanks to all the volunteers who came out on Saturday April, 18 for the Earth Day BeltLine Cleanup. More than 200 volunteers turned out to clear a one-mile stretch from Freedom Park Bridge to DeKalb Avenue and create a corridor that is now useable to the public.

READ MORE & View Photos from the event

 

What's New

2009 Quarterly Report

It's been a busy year already! See what Keep Atlanta Beautiful's been up to so far! READ MORE (PDF)


LISTEN to Peggy Denby, Executive Director of Keep Atlanta Beautiful on Radio Sandy Springs

http://www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/fog.php (02/10/2009)


Keep Atlanta Beautiful T-Shirt Design Winner Announced

Race 2 Recycle

Thanks to ALL the students across metro Atlanta who submitted their t-shirt designs for the 2009 Keep Atlanta Beautiful t-shirt design contest. It was difficult to choose but Keep Atlanta Beautiful narrowed the entries down to 12 finalists and you voted on your favorite on wsbtv.com's Going Green page. Connor, the winner of the popular vote will now have his design featured on a Keep Atlanta Beautiful t-shirt!

Read the full story: WSB-TV Going Green Georgia

Click here for the full sized image (1187x1536, 246kb)


Keep Atlanta Beautiful 2008 Year In Review

Race 2 Recycle

An overview of the programs and successes of Keep Atlanta Beautiful over the past year.

Click here to view (PDF)


Happy New Year 2009!!


Mayor's Race 2 Recycle Keeps Growing

Race 2 Recycle

Thank you to the more than 200 runners and sponsors who celebrated America Recycles Day by running the 2008 Mayor's Race 2 Recycle presented by Keep Atlanta Beautiful!

See the R2R 2008 Results
See the Sponsors


Atlanta Rises to the Cans 4 Cash Challenge!
Cans 4 Cash

Atlanta’s Total Collection For October:
112,295 lbs of aluminum cans means that Atlanta collected 3,818,030 cans to recycle!
....equivalent to saving 1,232 barrels of oil
....equivalent to taking 84 cars of the road for one year
....equivalent to $106,680 worth of baled aluminum
....Avoided 281 cubic meters of water consumption (since we are in  drought)

This is just for ONE month!  Think of what the City could collect in one YEAR!

Atlanta Cans 4 Cash City Recycling Challenge is a national contest that rewards cities for recycling aluminum beverage cans sponsored by The United States Conference of Mayors, Novelis Corporation, and Keep America Beautiful, Inc. The Challenge will award twelve $5,000 awards to participating municipalities and four $2,500 awards to Keep America Beautiful affiliates for furthering recycling efforts.

Thank you to the companies and organizations who participated in the 2008 Cans 4 Cash Atlanta Recycling Challenge.

See All Participating Organizations


More than 400 Volunteers Cleared the Way for the BeltLine
Beltline Cleanup

On November 8, 2008, more than 400 volunteers joined forces to clear kudzu and beautify the BeltLine NE Corridor. The cleanup was a first step toward creating a useable connection between Freedom Park and Piedmont Park, clearing the way for foot and bike paths.

Stay tuned to KeepAtlantaBeautiful.org to volunteer for future BeltLine Cleanups.

Links:
Sponsors and Participants
Photo Gallery

11 Alive News Coverage
BeltLine.org


2009 Bring One For The Chipper
2008 Bring One For The Chipper

On Saturday, January 3, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful, Home Depot, and the Davey Tree Expert Company will host the 19th annual Bring One for the Chipper Program. In 2008, more than 790 Christmas trees were brought to Atlanta’s two Home Depots to be recycled into severely needed mulch instead of contributing to Atlanta’s landfill. Read More...

Request Mulch...


KAtlB Board Meets Bi-Monthly on Third Tuesdays at Noon

The Keep Atlanta Beautiful Board of Directors meets at noon on the third Tuesday of alternate months at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 731 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.
Read More...


More Program and Event Highlights from 2008


2008 Litter Index
2008 Litter Index

In January Keep Atlanta Beautiful completed its third Litter Index for the City of Atlanta and each of its City Council Districts.  The same streets were traveled for the 2008 Litter Index Data as we traveled in 2006 and in 2007.  The results of the Litter Index are intended to help quickly and reliably assess the litter situation in our city and to assist us in achieving long-term, sustainable results with litter abatement programs. Read More...


Thanks to our 2008 Arms Around Atlanta Earth Day Sponsors
2008 Earth Day

Since the Greener Atlanta Initiative launched its community outreach program in 2007, support from our partners has made it possible to connect with thousands of residents; helping them understand their carbon footprint, inspiring them to step more lightly in Atlanta and improving the quality of life for residents and visitors of Atlanta for generations to come.  

Each April, Earth Day provides an opportunity to connect with community members and organizations who share these same values. Below is a brief overview of what we accomplished in just one month!
Read More...
Photos From The Event...


2007-2008 Keep Atlanta Beautiful Annual Report

Keep Atlanta Beautiful (KAtlB), an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, serves Atlanta by
developing and implementing public education and improvement programs that empower
Atlanta’s communities to sustain cleaner and greener neighborhoods.

KAtlB, formerly Atlanta Clean City Commission, was created in 1976 under Mayor Maynard
Jackson's administration to tackle the issues of litter prevention and environmental awareness on
a citywide basis. KAtlB is governed by a 27 member all-volunteer board, appointed by the mayor,
the president of the city council and members of the city council, representing all areas of the city.
Click Here for the Annual Report. (PDF)
Click Here for the Executive Summary. (PDF)


 


What Can You Do to Keep Atlanta Beautiful?
Innovations in Economic Development Forum

Innovations in Economic Development Forum

Co-sponsored by the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy and the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute.

The Innovations in Economic Development Forum brings together faculty, other researchers, students, economic developers, and policymakers to discuss leading-edge ideas and practices in economic development and innovation policy. Established in 2004, the Forum meets three to four times per semester at Georgia Tech, usually in Technology Square. The Forum is free and open to the public.
Click here for the 2008-2009 Forum schedule.

Recycle Curbside

Recycle Curbside

Request a recycling bin for curbside pickup if you live in a single-family residence or multi-family residence up to six units by calling Charles Dangerfield at 404-559-9700, ext 109. DreamSan picks up newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, telephone books, envelopes, cereal and shoe boxes, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and tin cans, and all plastics. Read More...
Recycle Hazardous

Recycle / Manage Household Hazardous Products  

Access www.earth911.org or call Earth 911's English/Spanish hotline at 1-800-CLEANUP.  Enter your zip code to locate the nearest household hazardous waste collection or recycling center. Earth 911 is a public and private sector partnership that provides you with accurate, local information to protect your community’s environment. Read More about Earth 911…

For a list of Metro Atlanta recyclers that accept loose materials (not baled or compacted), Click here.

For Industrial Materials Recycling Companies & Information, Contact: chuck_boelkins@gadnr.org

For polystyrene (Styrofoam) Recycling recovered from school and institutional cafeterias, contact Evergreen Partnering Group. Read More...

For recycling regular alkaline (non-rechargable) batteries, contact Metal Conversion Technologies, a company that waives the processing fees for non-profits and governments in Georgia. Read More...

Report Violators of Sign Ordinance

Educate / Report Violators of Sign Ordinance

Keep Atlanta Beautiful, the Department of Public Works’ Solid Waste Division, the City Solicitor's Office, and the Municipal Court are committed to aggressive enforcement of the sign ordinance. (See Initiative to Stop Illegal Signage below)   You can help by using suggested scripts to educate real estate agents, businesses, and other advertisers who violate city code. Read More...

You can also help by reporting illegal signage to the Solid Waste Education Enforcement Team Officer assigned to your area of the city. Click here.

Printable Sign Ordinance Information (PDF)

Put Waste In Its Place

Put Waste In Its Place

The city of Atlanta prohibits the throwing, dumping, sweeping, pushing, blowing, depositing, or leaving of litter on public or private property unless the litter is placed into a receptacle or container installed on such property. Violators of Article XI “Litter Control” of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances can be subject to a fine of $1000 a day.  Read More...
Neighborhood Cleanups

Organize Neighborhood Cleanups

Get proactively involved.  Ridding our city of visible pollution is everybody’s responsibility. A neighborhood blighted with litter, abandoned and neglected property, and illegal signage invites criminal activity.

Contact Peggy Denby, KAtlB’s Executive Director, for trash bags and gloves: Call 404-249-5853 or send Peggy an e-mail using the Contact Us page of this website.

Code Compliance

Report Violations Of City Codes

The Bureau of Code Compliance is responsible for the inspection of residential and commercial properties that are in violation of the Atlanta Housing Code, which pertains to privately owned property not in the City’s right-of-way. To file a complaint, call 404-330-6190.  For an explanation of the Code Compliance Process, and the kinds of violations dealt with, Read More...


Recent News

 

2008 Bring One For The Chipper
2008 Bring One For The Chipper

On Saturday, January 5, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful, Home Depot, and the Davey Tree Expert Company participated in the 18th annual Bring One for the Chipper Program. Over 790 Christmas trees were brought to Atlanta’s two Home Depots to be recycled into severely needed mulch instead of contributing to Atlanta’s landfill. Read More...


2007 News

Atlanta Recycles Day & Mayor-thon Race 2 Recycle
Atlanta Recycles Day 2007

On Saturday, November 17, at Isabel Gates Webster Park, Mayor Shirley Franklin, Keep Atlanta Beautiful and Park Pride celebrated Atlanta Recycles Day.  One hundred and eighty citizens registered to participate in the 5-k and 1-mile fun run and raised $25,000 toward recycling education and the installation of a recycled, rubberized jogging track at Isabel Gates Webster Park.  Atlanta Recycles Day was also a platform to launch initiatives that support the Mayor’s goals for a Greener Atlanta. Read More...

See also www.AmericaRecycles.org


Trader Vic’s 31st Anniversary Benefits KAtlB
Trader Vic's Trader Vic’s celebrated 31 years in Atlanta at its Downtown Hilton location with Lavapalooza 2007, an all day poolside luau on May 19. In recognition of KAtlB’s contribution to a cleaner and greener city, Trader Vic’s donated $1000 to KAtlB. In addition, Household Finance used the occasion to present KAtlB a $3000 contribution toward its Erase Litter program with Atlanta Public Schools’ high schools. Read More...

Inman Middle School Gets into Recycling
Inman Middle School An Inman Middle School science class about to study recycling contacted Peggy Denby, Executive Director of KAtlB.  Peggy asked for assistance from Karin Zarin, Atlanta’s Recycle Manager.  Karin introduced the science study unit with a brief overview of Recycle/Reuse.  In addition to their sunglasses, stickers, and bracelets, the students were given car litter bags to take home to their parents. Congratulations to these students who are learning to reuse, recycle, and reACT. Read More...

Arms Around Atlanta Earth Day
Earth Day 2007 The Arms Around Atlanta Earth Day Celebration on April 21 and 22 was a resounding success.  The City of Atlanta, Keep Atlanta Beautiful, and the BeltLine Partnership led 31 neighborhoods across Atlanta in 55 teams consisting of 1211 volunteers who collected 8500 bags of non-recyclable litter, 92 bags of recyclables, 14,000 tires, and 80,000 pounds of E-Waste. Read More...

2007 Litter Index
2007 Litter Index In January Keep Atlanta Beautiful completed its second annual Litter Index for the City of Atlanta and each of its City Council Districts.  The very same streets were traveled for the 2007 Litter Index Data as we traveled in 2006.  So this year, we also have comparison data to present.   The results of the Litter Index are intended to help quickly and reliably assess the litter situation in our city and to assist us in achieving long-term, sustainable results with litter abatement programs. Read More...

2007 Bring One For The Chipper
2007 Bring One For The Chipper Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Keep Georgia Beautiful, The Home Depot, and The Davey Tree Expert Company participated in the 17th annual “Bring One for the Chipper” and recycled 834 Christmas trees on January 6, 2007. Read More...

2006 News

Georgia’s Anti-Litter Campaign
GA Anti Litter Campaign Keep Atlanta Beautiful board members were among the 260 attendees from all over Georgia at the Governor’s Litter Summit on August 29-30, 2006, at the Atlanta Marriott Downtown. Governor Perdue introduced his Education, Eradication, Enforcement campaign against visible pollution and the campaign’s mascot, the Brown Trasher. This campaign will spend more than $2.25 million from July 2005 through June 2007. Currently the Georgia Department of Transportation spends $14 million per year just removing litter on state roads. The slogan for this state-wide anti-litter initiative is also its website, www.litteritcostsyou.org . Read More...

Electronic Waste Collected for Recycling
Recycle Electronic Waste On May 6, 2006, KAtlB, along with Atlanta City Councilmember Carla Smith, Advanced Disposal, Dream Sanitation, Atlanta Recycling Solutions, and the Department of Public Works collected electronic trash from conscientious citizens who brought their E-trash to Turner Field for recycling and proper disposal. The EPA estimates that Americans discard 2 million tons of tech trash each year that pollutes landfills.
Read More...

Grady High School Initiates Litter Abatement Program
Grady High Litter Abatement At a May 2 dedication ceremony at Grady High School, Keep Atlanta Beautiful initiated a city-wide program to educate Atlanta’s school children about litter abatement . At this ceremony the Grady campus received nine trash receptacles donated by Georgia Power. Here Peggy Denby, Excecutive Director of KAtlB, thanks those partnering with KAtlB in this project: Mary Norwood, Atlanta City Council; the vice-president and president of Grady’s student government; Nelson Jeter of Georgia Power; David Scott, Commissioner of Public Works; Anne Fauver, Atlanta City Council; Aaron Turpeau, president of KAtlB; James Witherspoon, of Public Works; Kathleen Bertrand, KAtlB board member and Grady parent; and president of Grady Senior Class.
Read More...

Great American Cleanup
Great American Cleanup On April 22, Earth Day Saturday, 14 volunteers from KAtlB and the city cleaned two miles of roadside litter along Memorial Drive from Second Avenue to Moreland Avenue. Working a total of 70 hours, these rain-soaked volunteers bagged 1500 pounds of trash, took down 50 illegal signs, and cleaned three illegal dumpsites. Read More...

Wren's Nest Reading Garden
Wren's Nest Reading Garden Keep Atlanta Beautiful chose Atlanta’s Wren’s Nest Museum as Atlanta’s site for one of the nine reading gardens donated nation-wide by Troy-Bilt. The opening ceremony for this beautiful garden was held March 16 at this historic landmark in West End. Read More...

Initiative to Stop Illegal Signage
Stop Illegal Signage Keep Atlanta Beautiful is committed to stopping illegal signage in the public right-of-way. This “litter on a stick” or “street spam” is a major source of visible pollution in itself; it is a public safety hazard; it encourages other forms of roadside littering; and it is a violation of city law. For these reasons, KAtlB developed a brochure that succinctly summarizes Atlanta’s Sign Ordinance. Read More...