The ever-changing situation with COVID-19 has altered our community Great American Cleanups throughout Liberty County.  Some of our Adopt Liberty groups were lucky enough to conduct their quarterly cleanups before the arrival of COVID-19.  Still, other groups have to wait with the rest of us to help improve our community.  We have many miles in our county that can be cleaned, but we want you to stay safe.  While some of Liberty County is working from home and children are out of school, each household can look around their area to ensure we keep Liberty Beautiful.  

Litter is ugly and nasty, and it can cause severe health and safety issues too.  It also affects how prospective businesses and other visitors to our community view our county.  Littering is everyone’s problem!  I hope you will consider getting involved in our volunteer cleanups when our current situation changes.  When you participate in cleanups, it helps to get the trash like cigarette butts, out of the roadways, and bring our community together.  Cigarette butts are some of the most commonly littered items, and they are also one of the most dangerous forms of litter.  It takes all of us to ensure our children, grandchildren, and even adults have a beautiful community.   Cleanup volunteers on the streets are a teaching tool for those who drive by as a reminder to not litter.  

If you would like to be involved in our countywide cleanups once the GAC is scheduled, you can sign up at www.signupgenius.com and search for klcb@libertycountyga.com.  To honor each group that brings volunteers to participate, we will have a surprise waiting for you, so you must register online.  You can still register while we wait for a new date; just sign up for the location you want to clean.   The first 500 pre-registered volunteers will receive official Great American Cleanup t-shirts and a picnic lunch after the cleanup.  Keep Liberty Beautiful provides all cleanup supplies, and the city where you conduct your clean will offer lunch.  

While we are waiting on new dates for the cleanups, here are some tips for stopping the litter that each of us can use daily:

1. Set an example by NOT littering. Carry a litter bag in your car and hang on to litter until you find a garbage receptacle. 

2. Pick up one piece of litter every day. Mainly pick up litter around storm drain sewers.  Anything going in these goes directly to our waterways.

3. Remind others--your family, your neighbors, your co-workers--the proper ways to dispose of litter do not include tossing it out of a vehicle window. 

4. Make sure your trash cans have good-fitting lids so litter cannot fall or blow out.  If you transport garbage or recyclable items to area convenience centers for disposal, make sure that your bags and containers are secure in your vehicle.  Over half of our local litter problem is caused by litter from unsecured loads. 

5. Ask your neighbors to join you in cleaning up one area in your community where litter accumulates.  ‘Adopting’ that area can help reduce the amount of litter because people do litter less in areas that are maintained and that appear to be ‘adopted’ by people that care. 

Treating the Earth like it is one big trash can is not what God intended for His world to be, so let’s take care of our planet.  Plan now to make a difference where you live, work, and play.  All organizations, churches, businesses, families, neighborhoods, and civic clubs are encouraged to register now to participate in the Great American Cleanup once new dates are set!  For more information, contact us at (912) 880-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com  or www.keeplibertybeautiful.org