BRACE GRANT PROGRAM

The people of Warner Robins care deeply about keeping their community clean, but the closest landfill is located twenty miles from City Hall. The nearest paint recycler operates out of Atlanta, over 100 miles away, and unfortunately, this often results in illegal dumping. To combat these challenges, Keep Warner Robins Beautiful partnered with city officials and other local organizations in 2023 to host a series of free drop-off events for hard-to-recycle items. Residents were able to drop off paint for the first time ever, amassing 7,293 pounds in just two and a half hours. They also brought in 4,000 pounds of electronics, 4,050 pounds of large household items like mattresses and appliances, and 1,943 pounds of paper to be shredded. Overall, Keep Warner Robins Beautiful collected 4,050 pounds of litter and debris and recycled 13,236 pounds of materials. The following Monday, they received a number of calls from residents asking when more drop-off events would be available. The community has not only embraced these resources, but eagerly awaits similar opportunities.

Sylvester is a small, rural town with limited funds, but its residents have shown time and again that improving their environment is a priority. In 2023, a BRACE grant enabled them to reinstate a popular community cleanup day that had faltered during pandemic years. 50 volunteers came together to remove 10,960 pounds of litter and debris from 12 public spaces, including dumpsters placed in four council districts for three days to collect tires, electronics, and larger household items from residents. Sylvester's code enforcement department also hosted a career day for approximately 800 high school students, 50 of whom went on to work for the city over the summer. Nearly half of these students participated in weekly street cleanups with the public works department as part of their curriculum, and all of them walked away with a clear understanding of what it will take to keep their community litter-free in the future. This series of events not only made Sylvester cleaner, greener, and more beautiful–it educated local youth and empowered them to become changemakers.

The cities of Warrenton, Norwood, and Camak have one thing in common: a desire to maintain clean neighborhoods, preserve natural ecosystems, and sustain the safety, health, and economic vitality of their communities. Litter and illegal dumping can severely hamper these efforts, so their board of commissioners put together a multifaceted approach to combat the issue. With the aid of a BRACE grant, they hosted a number of cleanups and a countywide amnesty event in 2024. Sites at four locations with roll-off containers and specialized recycling vendors allowed residents to drop off bulky items free of charge. Officials also designed and distributed educational brochures. In the end, they collected over 49,164 pounds of trash and debris and recycled 125 pounds of shredded paper, 452 tires, and 438 pounds of additional items, including computers and other electronics. By mobilizing their residents and investing in equipment for sustained cleanup initiatives, Warren County has taken a crucial step toward making their area of Georgia cleaner and greener.

The city of Oglethorpe is a rural community that sits on the banks of the Flint River in middle Georgia. Its residents take pride in protecting this freshwater ecosystem, and in the spring of 2024, BRACE funding enabled them to take a multi-pronged approach to tackling litter and debris. Local churches, youth groups, garden clubs, and civic groups came together with the Downtown Development Authority to clean the downtown area and assist seniors with their yards. The city purchased roll-off dumpsters to place at several locations to collect bulky items, as well as a camera system, signage, and privacy screen fencing for their permanent drop-off location. These installments will help law enforcement combat illegal dumping for years to come. City officials, including the mayor, even visited the local elementary school to educate students on the issue, launching a coloring contest and inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards. Overall, 50 volunteers collected 120,000 pounds of trash and 3,000 pounds of large household items during this series of events.

Donalsonville, a rural town of just 2,833 residents, holds the distinction of being the first chartered city in Georgia. Despite its rich heritage, the community faces significant challenges, including limited financial resources and infrastructure gaps that contribute to issues with litter and blight. With restricted access to waste disposal and property maintenance options, some residents have struggled to keep up, leading to illegal dumping and neglected spaces. BRACE funding enabled the launch of the Donalsonville Community Cleanup and Litter Prevention Initiative, which included cleanup days targeting parks, lakes, and roadways and an educational campaign promoting awareness of code compliance, proper disposal practices, and the environmental and legal impacts of dumping. The results were powerful: 10 volunteers contributed 40 hours to remove 17.74 tons of litter across four square miles, and more than 500 community members attended three educational events—all helping to create a cleaner, stronger Donalsonville.

Trash and debris have recently been the most common code violations in Rockdale County, with officers investigating 3,485 cases since October 2023. In Conyers, code enforcement responded to an additional 430 complaints during the same period. To tackle the issue and empower residents, Rockdale County partnered with the City of Conyers and Work 4 Eli Electronic Recycling to host a “Love Where You Live” amnesty day for household trash, debris, and electronics. With BRACE funding, the county purchased cleanup supplies for the event and future initiatives. The response was strong—more than 500 residents participated in the drop-off event, while 12 homeowner associations organized neighborhood cleanups. Altogether, 11,605 pounds of litter and 2,932 pounds of electronics were collected. Moving forward, HOAs will continue to schedule cleanup days, supported by the county’s code enforcement and community improvement teams, who will provide tools and supplies to keep the area clean and beautiful year-round.