Programs

Partners for Clean Communities
Keep America Beautiful System

In response to growing questions and complex answers, Partners for Clean Communities, a regional affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. was formed in 1993 to assist citizens and local governments to seek solutions to solid waste problems. Partners for Clean Communities serves Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins and Union counties in Tennessee.

Sponsored by the local governments and hosted by the Clinch-Powell RC&D, this public education effort is dedicated to solid waste management and litter reduction. Partners assists our communities with solid waste education, technical assistance, litter reduction and control and environmental programs directed to schools, businesses, industries, government and the general public.

As a regional KAB System, Partners is part of an important network linking KAB Systems nationwide in an organization dedicated to improved solid waste handling practices and litter reduction in American communities.

 

Helping Each Other

Partners for Clean Communities is a volunteer based organization, which means we work with and through people just like you. We are teaching citizens in our five county service area to make responsible consumer decisions, to consider all solid waste alternatives, and to make the best solid waste decisions for their communities. We are also working closely with our local governments in planning and implementing solid waste systems to best meet community needs.

Partners focuses attention on changing behaviors and attitudes toward littering, waste handling and waste reduction using the proven KAB 5 Step Process of:

  1. Get the Facts
  2. Involve the People
  3. Plan Systematically
  4. Focus on Results
  5. Give Positive Reinforcement

 

Talking Trash

Q. How much waste do I throw away each day?
A. The average American throws away between 4 and 6 pounds every day.

Q. Where does my garbage go when I throw it away?
A. Municipal solid waste (MSW) ultimately eands up in a landfill in our region, unless it is recycled or reused.

Q. What is a landfill?
A. An area where MSW is buried underground. It is a complex site which must meet stringent regulations to protect ground water and human health. The cost of constructing and operating landfills is skyrocketing to meet these safety regulations.

Q. How can I avoid sending may garbage to a landfill?
A. By Precycling, Recycling, Reducing and Reusing

Q. What is Precycling?
A. Precycling involves making solid waste decisions before you purchase a product. Is the packaging excessive? Is it recyclable, reusable or made from recycled products? These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself when making purchasing decisions.

Q. What is biodegradable, and will it help solve the problem?
A. It means the material will decompose, or breakdown, in the presence of water, air and sunlight. But in properly run landfills there is no water, air or sunlight so the products DON'T biodegrade.

 

Where and When Do People Litter?

Extensive research by Keep America Beautiful, Inc. shows that people litter when one or more of the following situations apply.

Where they don't feel ownership.
When they know it will be picked up after them.
Where litter has already accumulated.

 

YOU Can Prevent Litter!

As a pedestrian - Hold on to litter until you reach a trash container.

As a motorist - Keep a litter bag in your vehicle and use it.

Keep Recreation Sites Clean - Clean up the spot you used and put your litter in trash containers before leaving.

Containerize - All household waste in plastic bags and place in approved metal or plastic containers with tight fitting lids for pick up or take to the convenience center for proper disposal.

Cover vehicles - When hauling waste to prevent litter and debris from blowing out.

Recycle - Paper, aluminum cans, bottles, etc. Recycling pays and saves valuable natural resources and landfill space.

As a citizen - Know and support solid waste laws. Encourage others to follow these same practices.

 recycle

Hancock Cental School students encourage recycling through art.

 

Projects

Here are just a few of our projects:

Look Out for Litter Campaign
Great American Cleanups
Teacher In-Service
Radio Public Service Announcements
Household Hazardous Collection Events
School and Civic Presentations

 



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“All programs and assistance of the RC&D Council are available without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).”