During this month related to shamrocks, rainbows, leprechauns, good fortune, and the color green (our favorite color), Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful would like to highlight the fact that Gwinnett County just keeps getting GREENER. And it looks so good on you! Here are some awesome stats and facts to back up that claim…

• Each year, as a Keep America Beautiful affiliate, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful takes part in a Community Appearance Index (CAI). This proprietary tool is designed to gather data annually by surveying a random statistical sample of a city or town. The annual results of this roadside litter audit are then used to develop a local plan to change attitudes and behaviors regarding litter and related issues. Our last CAI sampling – in June 2023 – showed a marked improvement over 2022’s numbers! We can’t wait to see what the June 2024 numbers show!
• During the first two months of 2024, we added eight Adopt-A-Road groups. Over the course of 2023, we added 23, bringing the total number of groups participating in this litter prevention initiative on roadways throughout the county to 175. We would love that number to be higher. During the last six months, we’ve had to perform quality control to “purge” the program of several groups who no longer meet the requirements. 
• During the first two months of 2024, we conducted two Adopt-A-Stream workshops. In 2023, we certified 71 citizen scientists for Georgia’s volunteer water quality program.
• At our 2024 Bring One for the Chipper event, we chipped 800 live Christmas trees into mulch for use at our local parks instead of taking up precious space in our local landfills.
• At our first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day of 2024, we helped 531 neighbors rid their homes of 66,636.5 lbs of chemicals, cleaners, batteries, and more—24,000 lbs of which was paint. That’s roughly the weight of a parade of 11 female elephants and three calves—all diverted from local landfills.
• During our 2023 Earth Day Recycling Event, 115 volunteers provided 575 hours of service to help us collect 3,200 pounds of textiles, 6,082 gallons of latex/oil-based paint, nine tons of tires, 19 tons of paper, and 19 tons of electronics from 1,504 vehicles.
• In April 2023, GC&B and the Department of Water Resources partnered together to have a WaterGoat installed at Sweetwater Creek & Bethesda Park. This incredible tool collects litter and prevents it from traveling further downstream into larger bodies of water.
• During our 2023 Great Gwinnett Wetlands, 130 volunteers showed up to remove approximately a half-acre of invasive privet and 585 pounds of litter. We also designated a team to conduct a stream habitat survey with Chris Kodani from Clayton State University.
• In 2023, through our partnership with Ripple Glass, we added 10 new Gwinnett County-based glass recycling collection sites, expanding the total number of drop-off locations to FIFTEEN!
• For the 2023-2024 school year, we grew the number of Green & Healthy Schools to 72!
• For the 2023-2024 school year, we engaged 24 high school students in our Green Youth Advisory Council.
• During our 2023 America Recycles Day, aided by 100 volunteers, we helped 1,446 of our neighbors rid their homes of 2,550 pounds of textiles, 5,514 gallons of paint, 14 tons of tires, 11 tons of paper, and 21 tons of electronics.

Keep up the great work, friends and neighbors! If you’ve never participated in a Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful event as a volunteer or attendee but would love to become more involved in your community, visit www.GwinnettCB.org to learn more about our programs and upcoming events. Don’t miss our tips for “GREEN LIVING” at home, in your neighborhood, and at work. We are always looking to grow our circle of environmental stewards!