OUR COUNTY
D. GARY DAVIS
COUNTY MAYOR
Keeping Bradley County Clean and litter free
Each year the month of April is set aside as national Keep America Beautiful (KAB) Month. An anticipated 1,200 KAB affiliates and participating organizations nationwide will rally an estimated 3 million volunteers to hold litter and debris cleanups on public lands and waterways, host recycling drives, spruce up community parks and playgrounds, remove graffiti, plant trees and community gardens, and host many more activities designed to improve our environment. As the 2010 "Great American Cleanup” begins I want to remind our citizens of the positive contributions KAB has made to our community since 1991.
The Cleveland/Bradley Keep America Beautiful Program is overseen by a Board of local citizens who represent a cross section of people in our community. It supports and promotes a clean environment through its environmental education programs and the Adopt-A-Spot/Adopt-A-Campus Programs and workshops.
KAB offers hands on projects for students in city, county and private schools and also provides programs to home school students, scout troops, church groups, civic organizations and environmental clubs.
The Cleveland/Bradley KAB affiliate also provides a litter hotline. This allows citizens who witness littering from a motor vehicle to call the hotline and supply the date, location, approximate time, tag number and item tossed. The information is then directed to the Cleveland Police Department and an "Oops” letter, along with a litter bag is mailed to the registered vehicle owner. They are reminded that it is illegal to litter and a fine can be levied for doing so. The Litter Hotline can also used to report environmental concerns in your neighborhood. The number is 423-559-3307.
One of the most visible contributions that Cleveland/Bradley KAB makes to our community is the annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. Dozens of local volunteers are mobilized for this effort which has a direct impact upon our environment. The 2010 household waste collection day is scheduled for Saturday, April 17th. Crews will be available at Tri-State Exhibition Center from 8 am to 1pm to assist you in disposing of your household hazardous waste.
Recycling is an important part of keeping Bradley County clean and I’m happy to report that the use of our drop-off recycling centers is growing. The 2009 recycling report has been completed and several segments show sharp increases over 2008. For example the amount of corrugated paper material almost doubled from 253,005 pounds in 2008 to 441,279 pounds in 2009. Mixed paper jumped from 864,583 pounds to 979,943 and glass increased from 52,870 pounds in 2008 to 91,248 pounds in 2009.
Our citizens are also recycling their old computers and electronics. 2,648 pounds of old electronics were collected between its launch in August and December 31st.
The Cleveland/Bradley County Keep America Beautiful affiliate is open to everyone. For more information about the KAB program contact Joanne Maskew, Executive Director, at 423-559-3307 or by email, clevebradkab@aol.com.