Our Mission
To empower citizens of Athens and Limestone County to take greater responsibility for enhancing their community environment.
As a recognized leader in community improvement and local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., we are guided by our Mission and these Principals:
Guiding Principals
- Education: This is the key to encouraging positive behaviors toward community improvement.
- Individual Responsibility: Improving communities, their environment and quality of life all begins with personal responsibility -- individuals becoming more engaged as citizens and stewards of the environment.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Broad-based community alliances are essential to achieve sustainable community improvement.
- Volunteer Action: By engaging volunteers we extend the reach of our education and multiply the impact of our actions.
Education Focus
- Litter Prevention: Defining litter, identifying the causes and reducing it by organizing cleanups and promoting proper handling of discarded waste in our communities.
- Beautification and Community Improvement: Improving the visual aspects of our communities through programs that beautify and naturally clean our environment.
- Minimization of the Impact of Waste on our Communities: Reducing the impact of solid waste in our communities through integrated programs including responsible consumerism, source reduction and reuse, recycling and education.
Pressure Points for Change:
Changing attitudes and influencing behavior are brought about most effectively using a combination of methods:
- Education: Education and awareness are bedrock tools of behavior change.
- Ordinances: Changing public policy through codes, laws, or ordinances is one way to change behaviors around quality of life and environmental issues.
- Enforcement: Consistent and effective enforcement of existing codes, laws, and ordinances helps change behavior and reinforce the commitment to a cleaner, greener community.
- Tools and Resources: This can include such tangible things as a litter pick up tools, sanitation collection vehicles, graffiti removal equipment, litter or ash receptacles, recycling bins, or a pocket ashtray. It also includes strategies that encourage individuals to make different long-term choices, blending knowledge from social marketing with behavior change tools.