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(NEW) CLEAN COMMUNITY CHALLENGE The Georgia Department of Community Affairs invited the City of Jackson to participate in the Governor's Clean Community Challenge program (CCC). This program encourages local governments to develop a comprehensive approach to litter prevention and helps provide the tools necessary to address litter. GREAT NEWS: At the City of Jackson's Council meeting held on June 17, 2008, The Council voted to participate in the CCC program. The Council by their vote stated, "We are prepared to commit the required time and resources to this effort." The chief elected official, Mayor Charles J. Brown, signed the letter of commitment and returned it to the DCA. The DCA strongly encourages local governments to partner with Community organizations that have experienced with litter prevention. Mayor Brown recommended that the City of Jackson partner with Clean Up Butts Association to coordinate the program in behave of the City. The Council approved the Mayor's recommendation, also, approved becoming an affiliate with Keep America Beautiful. C.U.B.A.'s president, Jim Trenton said, "We are very excited that the City has asked our Association to partner with them in this program." Program participation requires a litter attitude and awareness survey, conduct a visual litter index/survey and develop a litter prevention plan. A member of C.U.B.A has attended a CCC workshop held in Macon, Ga. on July 9, 2008 and DCA recycling workshop in Griffin, Ga. on July 15, 2008. A Focus group of 6-10 citizens volunteers is being formed to meet the participation requirements of the program. the litter prevention plan must include all three of litter prevention areas: Education, Eradication and Enforcement. If you have any questions about the program, please call Jim Trenton at 770-775-0204 or JTrenton324@bellsouth.net; State contact, Sarah Visser at 404-679-4853 or svisser@dca.state.ga.us EDUCATION: Our objective is to inform and educate the public of environmental problems existing within Butts County. Hopefully, teaching citizens of all ages to respect and protect our environment. We believe that the education of our youth and the general public is vital for any long-term improvement in our environment. We have presented lectures at numerous civic clubs, churches and local school clubs. We have an overhead projector and display boards for our presentation available, we want to visit your group. We have distributed hundreds of Buster's litter Blasting Activity Books, Jamal Junknot and Patty Pride coloring fold-out sheets and the Great American Challenge Contest sheets to our elementary schools, Daycare Centers and the local library. Also, “Litter It Cost You” vehicle litter bags have been given out along with “ Secure Your Load” pamphlets. We are currently working on a power point presentation with updated educational materials. Please check our
pictures under “Events” page. ERADICATION: Eradication is basely the cleanup and removal of litter. No one wants to pick up trash, yet every year over a hundred thousand volunteers participate in the annual Great American Cleanup across America. The State of Georgia is spending over 30 million dollars annually for the removal of litter from our highways and streets. C.U.B.A. Participates in three major events each year in our efforts to remove litter from our community. The Great American Cleanup, Bring One for the Chipper and the City of Jackson's Amnesty. Please click “Events” for details and pictures.
A key component of any litter prevention plan must be strict code enforcement. Citizens must encourage leaders to get law enforcement agencies to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for littering violations by reporting the location, time, make of vehicle and license number. Butts County has the codes and ordinances in place, but there is no pro-active enforcement. This sends the wrong message to litters. Local codes and ordinances should be designed to combat litter, illegal dumping, over grown vegetation on vacant lots and any other condition that creates a blight on our county and cities. Ordinances that target quality of life issues are growing in communities across the U.S. - An getting results. A 2001 survey of over 280 cities showed that public agencies enforcing local codes and ordinances top the list of what police rely on most to help them reduce crime. Source: U.S. Conference of Mayors. The message from this survey should be clear to law enforcement, Cleanup our county and cities and reduce the crime. Eight States has a littering report system and more are following the trend. C.U.B.A. is currently working to develop a “Litter Buster's” hot- line. Every citizen may report litter bugs. This program would be a 24-hour litter reporting hot-line and it will work like this: When you see someone tossing litter from a vehicle, see litter falling or blowing out of a truck, commercial trash haulers or public trucks because of their failure to secure their loads, call the hot-line number and report the location, time and the litterbug's license number. The litterbug will receive a courtesy letter from CUBA informing him or her that you can't get away with littering in Jackson, Georgia. The letter will explain that if a law enforcement officer had witnessed the littering, it could have resulted in a serious fine or even jail time. The system would allow citizens to use Alltel or AT&T cellphones by using a specify code to the hot-line. Citizens may also submit information on-line. We will be requesting that our court system require convicted litters to cleanup litter in an assigned area and post their names in the local newspaper. We are checking into applying for a grant for litter signs and a “litter camera” to position in heavy littered areas. TAKE PRIDE, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, TAKE ACTION
ADOPT-A-STREET / ROAD PROGRAM: We have individuals, families, school clubs and church groups participating. The program is designed for everyone in our community. We request volunteers living with the city limits of Jackson, Flovilla or Jenkinsburg to adopt one square block near their home or business and remove litter from both sides of the street at least once every month. Volunteers living outside the city limits adopt a one mile stretch of rural highway. Citizens living within a subdivision adopt a one block area in their neighborhood. We encourage volunteers to plan block parties and get to know each other. CUBA will supply trash bags, gloves, safety vest and other materials to help you make your cleanup a success. Please contact us for an information packet on this program. Just imagine what could be accomplished by this single program if 1,000 citizens participated out of the 24,000 population.
RECYCLING AND WASTE REDUCTION: 2.6 MILLION TONS of recycle materials go to our landfills each year. Recycling is a huge multi-billion dollar business today and it is growing every year. Keep Clayton County Beautiful has joined forces with USA Liquidators to recycle electronics, keeping it out of their landfill. The City of Griffin – Solid Waste Department has received a Department of Community Affairs grant for $550,000.00 to build a recycling center and purchase a recycling truck. The new center will be up and running in 2008. Congratulations are in order for Griffin's Solid Waste Department for winning three Georgia Solid Waste Association of North America awards. Plastic bag recycling, NYC has passed a bill requiring recycling of plastic bags. San Francisco has banned use of plastic bags in large stores and retail chains. Other urban areas are currently considering methods of control for this growing problem. Each year over 86 billion plastic bags are used in the U.S.. CUBA is assessing the current recycling and waste reduction operations in Butts County.
BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER: 2007 was the first year that we participated in the project. Working with Butts County and the City of Jackson nearly 200 Christmas trees were recycled. These trees were either turned into mulch or used for fish habitats. This program helps keep trees out of our landfill. We appreciate the sponsors that made possible the seedlings given out during the event. Thanks to the Georgia Forestry Commission for handling the seedlings. We thank WJGA 92.1 for the news coverage given for the event. we hope the event will grow and more trees will be recycled in 2009.
AWARDS PROGRAM: Download and Print Nomination Form We recognize those citizens that take extra steps in keeping their homes and property beautiful. This award is available to individuals, businesses, government, churches, civic and other groups. Click “Photo Gallery”.
The Great American Cleanup Challenge contest: For the last two years we have held this contest in our elementary schools. Awards are given to student winners of each grade level. We are indebted to our sponsors and Ms. Lynda White and staff for their support. Click “Photo Gallery”.
Tree Planting and Beautification: Our goal is to work
with local beautification committees, garden clubs, individuals and the National
Arbor Day Foundation to establish a great tree planting and beautification
program for our cities and county. A committee of CUBA members are currently
planning a flower and shrub garden at the City of Jackson Welcome sign at the
intersection of Macon Road and Indian Springs Street.
YOUTH EARN AND LEARN PROGRAM: Our goal with this program is to teach our underprivileged youth work ethics by assisting the poor and elderly with cleanup of their yards and minor repairs under proper supervision. These young citizens will receive a wage for their labor and our older citizens will benefit from their labor. This program is currently inactive due to necessary funding and volunteers required to implement. Would you volunteer and/or sponsor this good work ?
- Jim Trenton
© 2008, Clean Up Butts
Association, Jackson, Georgia
site sponsored by:
Debbie Bartrop The Official Website of
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