Dr. Karen Bell
Keep Liberty Beautiful
August is shaping up to be a busy month for Keep Liberty Beautiful (KLB), with opportunities for residents to recycle hard-to- dispose-of household items, safely shred sensitive documents, participate in a statewide citizen science project, and even volunteer to help protect Liberty County’s waterways.
Whether you’re cleaning out the garage, organizing your home office, or looking for a meaningful way to spend a Saturday morning, KLB has something for everyone.
Our goal is to make it easy for residents to do the right thing for the environment. Every item recycled, every document securely shredded, and every pollinator counted makes a positive difference in our community.
Recycle It! Fairs return August 22 Keep Liberty Beautiful’s quarterly Recycle It! Fairs will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at two convenient locations:
- Liberty County Community Complex 9397 East Oglethorpe Highway, Midway
- Walthourville City Hall, 222 Busbee Drive, Walthourville These events provide residents with an opportunity to recycle items that cannot be placed in curbside or neighborhood recycling bins.
Items accepted include:
- Electronics and electronic accessories
- Cell phones and accessories
- CFL and fluorescent light bulbs
- Used motor oil and antifreeze
- Car batteries
- Household batteries
- Printer ink and toner cartridges
- Telephone books, large sales catalogs and books
- Gently used clothing, shoes and household goods
- Expired prescription and over-the-counter medications (no needles or syringes) Special collection boxes will also be available for VTech learning toys, Febreze containers, and Gillette razors through Keep Liberty Beautiful’s TerraCycle recycling partnerships.
Mark your calendar for the next Recycle It! Fair in Hinesville, on Saturday, October 24, at Bradwell Park during the annual Rivers Alive Cleanup.
Free Shred It! Day The Walthourville location will once again host Shred It! Day, providing residents with a secure way to dispose of old legal, financial and medical records.
The shredding truck will operate from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., but participants must be in line no later than 12:45 p.m.
Identity theft continues to be a concern for everyone. Shredding old personal documents is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself while keeping paper out of the landfill.
Become a citizen scientist After dropping off recyclables, residents are invited to participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census from 10 a.m. until noon at the Keep Liberty Beautiful office in Midway.
The census, created by the University of Georgia, allows anyone, from experienced gardeners to first-time participants, to contribute valuable information about pollinator populations.
Participants simply select a flowering plant, observe it for 15 minutes, and count the insects that land on it. Categories include:
- Bumble bees
- Honey bees
- Small bees
- Carpenter bees
- Wasps
- Flies
- Butterflies and moths
- Other insects The census takes place on August 21-22, and observations are submitted online through the Great Southeast Pollinator Census website (https:// GSePC.org). The University of Georgia no longer accepts paper forms.
Those planning to attend the KLB event on August 22, are encouraged to RSVP in advance to ensure we prepare enough supplies and refreshments at https://bit.ly/pollencensus. If you have census questions, you can contact Becky Griffin, the University of Georgia project coordinator, who is available by email at beckygri@uga.edu.
“Pollinators are responsible for much of the food we eat and the flowers we enjoy,” said Amanda Jeffers, volunteer coordinator of Keep Liberty Beautiful. “This is a fun family activity that helps scientists better understand pollinator populations while teaching children and adults why these tiny creatures matter.”
Boat captains still needed
Keep Liberty Beautiful is also seeking volunteer boat captains for the 19th Annual Beach Sweep on Saturday, August 15 at 7 a.m.
Volunteer captains help transport cleanup crews to coastal areas that are inaccessible by land. KLB provides cleanup supplies, T-shirts, food and beverages, and will cover boat launch fees at Halfmoon Marina.
“If you have a boat and a few hours to spare, you can make a tremendous impact on protecting our marshes and waterways,” said Elvis Mack, program assistant of Keep Liberty Beautiful. “Our boat captains are an essential part of making Beach Sweep a success each year.”
For more information about any of these events, to volunteer, or to RSVP for the pollinator census or Beach Sweep, contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at (912) 880-4888, email klcb@libertycountyga. gov, or visit www.keeplibertybeautiful. org. Follow Keep Liberty Beautiful on Facebook for the latest event updates and volunteer opportunities.
This August, recycle, protect your identity, support pollinators, and help Keep Liberty County Beautiful, one small action at a time.