Georgia County Government - February 2008 - (Page 44)

Feature State Announces Regional Recycling Hub Grant Awards Bulloch County, Griffin, Savannah and Valdosta-Lowndes County Selected as Regional Locations lmost 500 Georgians attending the 29th annual Keep Georgia Beautiful Awards Luncheon in Atlanta on Oct. 25 were the first to hear that Bulloch County, Griffin, Savannah and Valdosta-Lowndes County will receive a total of $2.2 million in state grants from the state’s Solid Waste Trust Fund (SWTF) to implement four new, innovative regional recycling collection programs. “The care and efficient use of our natural resources is a top priority for Georgia’s citizens and families. Like water conservation, the implementation of innovative waste-reduction initiatives is important for Georgia’s present and future,” said Mike Beatty, Commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA). “We are pleased that our state’s Solid Waste Trust Fund dollars will leverage private-sector support and support initiatives that are wellpositioned to dramatically increase the state’s recycling rates.” DCA’s Office of Environmental Management will work with the selected communities to establish and implement these newly announced recycling programs. A these projects will serve our urban and rural areas, make it easier for Georgians to recycle, conserve our resources and leverage public and private funds,” said Randy Hartmann, DCA’s environmental programs director. “The projects proposed by Bulloch County, Griffin, Savannah and Valdosta-Lowndes County are expected to serve nearly 24 percent of the state’s population. When combined with existing programs, these new efforts are well-positioned to have a real and measurable statewide impact.” The state’s recycling strategy, with its focus on public-private recycling partnerships and its business model approach, drew the attention of Curbside Value Partnership (CVP). CVP is a nationally recognized organization with a primary focus on increasing participation in residential, curbside recycling programs and measuring the growth of these recycling programs as a way to increase the sustainability of local recycling efforts. Late in 2006, CVP approached DCA with an interest in partnering with the state to launch and test education and marketing programs in the recycling hub communities and to measure the volumes of recyclable materials collected in these communities. CVP plans to take this information and promote Georgia’s results as a national case-study model. Plans are already under way to roll out parts of this program in the other Southeastern states. New Recycling Hubs to Save Money, Reduce Landfill Usage The planned recycling hubs are also slated to have a significant statewide impact in other ways, including the expansion of single-stream recycling collection beyond metro Atlanta and a continued focus on the reuse of recycled items by Georgia industries. One of the most recent trends in recycling collection is the co-collection of recyclables in one vehicle – “singlestream collection.” Single-stream recycling collection drastically reduces the collection cost for recyclable materials and dramatically increases recycling participation rates. This collection process, however, does require the materials Innovative Approaches Establish Georgia as a Recycling Leader Georgia’s plan to establish regional recycling hubs to jump-start single-stream recycling and increase statewide recycling rates did not go unnoticed. National recycling organizations have expressed significant interest in our new programs. “The innovation and partnerships proposed in the state’s recycling strategy have established Georgia as one of the nation’s newly recognized recycling leaders. We are especially pleased that 44 About the Georgia DCA The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) was created in 1977 to serve as an advocate for local governments. As outlined in its mission statement, DCA seeks opportunities that support “partnering with communities to help create a climate of success for Georgia’s families and businesses.” DCA operates a host of state and federal grant programs; serves as the state’s lead agency in housing finance and development; promulgates building codes to be adopted by local governments; provides comprehensive planning, technical and research assistance to local governments; and serves as the lead agency for the state’s solid waste reduction efforts. For more information about DCA, please visit www.dca.state.ga.us. Media inquiries may be directed to DCA Communications Director Kimberly King at (404) 679-0615 or kking@dca.state.ga.us. GEORGIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT http://www.dca.state.ga.us

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - February 2008

Georgia County Government - February 2008 Contents President's Message County Matters Regional Focus on the Georgia Mountains: Rabun, Habersham and Stephens Counties DNR Commissioner Noel Holcomb Solid Waste Management in Georgia: New Challenges Ahead Essential Elements of Negotiating Professional Service Firm Contracts The Walker County Courthouse at LaFayette Extension News: Partnerships are Key to Conservation Education Research Corner: Interns: An Asset to Every County NACo News: Counties and Climate Change FAQs Georgia Flag to Travel to All 159 Georgia Counties State Announces Regional Recycling Hub Grant Awards Abraham Joins ACCG Support Staff County Parade ACCG Launches e-Magazine Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - February 2008

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