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.


Upcoming Events

Cans 4 Cash

Cans 4 Cash Atlanta Recycling Challenge

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. The City of Atlanta in partnership with Keep Atlanta Beautiful has entered the challenge, encouraging residents and public and private facilities to meet the challenge by starting their own recycling programs during the month of October. Major program participants already include Atlanta Public Schools and Zoo Atlanta.  Join the challenge!

To sign up your company or organization, contact:
Susan McCray, 678-878-1823, sue@greeneratlanta.net

For more information on residential recycling contact:
Mary Harrington, City of Atlanta Recycling Coordinator mharrington@atlantaga.gov.

JOIN THE CHALLENGE TODAY! Click Here (PDF)

Thank you to the companies and organizations who are participating in the 2008 Cans 4 Cash Atlanta Recycling Challenge.
Click here for a list of participating organizations, and check www.KeepAtlantaBeautiful.org in November for results of the challenge!


Beltline Cleanup

Beltline Clean & Green Clean-up

The BeltLine NE Corridor Cleanup at East Ponce de Leon near City Hall East. Saturday, November 8, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., followed by a picnic. The cleanup is a first step toward creating a useable connection between Freedom Park and Piedmont Park.
It’s our BeltLine. Do your part. Get connected!

More Info (PDF)


Race 2 Recycle

Atlanta Recycles Day & Mayor's Race 2 Recycle

On November 15, 2008, the national America Recycles Day, join Keep Atlanta Beautiful for the 2nd Annual Mayor's Race 2 Recycle! Thanks to these sponsors who are already supporting the Race: Home Depot Foundation, Pratt Industries, Zoo Atlanta, Beneficial and WSB-TV.

More Info
See the R2R Excitement from 2007


Race 2 Recycle

More Race 2 Recycle Activities:
2009 Keep Atlanta Beautiful T-shirt Design Contest
—DEADLINE EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 14!!

For those of you who missed the first deadline, we have good news!  We have extended the t-shirt design contest until November 14, so that all you artists, fashionistas and recycling junkies will have another chance to show us your eco-sassy creations!

More Info
Details and Entry Form (PDF)

Eligibility: Participation is open to all students K-12 in the Atlanta metropolitan area. This includes: public and private schools, home schools, clubs and organizations.


Grady/Midtown eWaste Recycling

Next E-Waste Recycling Day: Saturday, November 15, 2008

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)


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 (next meeting in August) at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 731 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.
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...


Winners Announced for the 2008 Stepping Lightly in Atlanta Awards
2008 Stepping Lightly Awards

Winners Announced! Kids showed Atlanta how green they really are by submitting projects that showed cool ways to care for the environment.

Click Here for the full list


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.

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


Bring Your Own Bag to Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market

Thank you to those who participated in the "Bring Your Own Bag to Whole Foods"

During the month of April, Whole Foods gave you a 10 cent refund for each bag you reused on your shopping trip. You were able to ask your cashier to donate your dimes to Keep Atlanta Beautiful. Whole Foods Market stopped using plastic shopping bags by Earth Day, April 22nd. Did you know that plastic bags take 1,000 years to disintegrate and gradually release toxins into water and soil?

Electronics, Cardboard Recycling Begins at Midtown/Grady Site
Georgia E-Waste Saturday, March 15, marked the beginning of a city-wide recycling initiative. From 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Grady High School, Keep Atlanta Beautiful and the Midtown Neighbors' Association brought electronics and cardboard recycling to the neighborhood. Georgia E-Waste collected electronic trash, and Pratt Recycling set up a permanent recycling bin for cardboard in the parking lot at Grady High School on 8th Street. Georgia E Waste will return with its recycling truck monthly on third Saturdays.  When will this program be brought to other areas of the city? What is included in electronic recyclables? Read More...
Pratt Industries

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...


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...

Request Mulch...


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...