| Georgia, the heart of the Deep South, is right | | | | lakes and rivers. This month the Georgia |
| with the rest of America in its new found | | | | Environmental Protection Division announced that |
| appreciation for all things green. State efforts | | | | after one of the wettest springs in more than a |
| may have lacked in some areas, but innovative | | | | century, the drought is over and the ban is lifted. |
| local activists and governments have helped turn | | | | Outdoor watering is still regulated, with even and |
| this peach into one of the Southeast's eco | | | | odd numbered addresses getting alternating days |
| powers. Auto salvage is especially popular in the | | | | to water. Some observers worry that drought |
| largely rural state, and auto recycling is just one | | | | could return, but are happy to see the bans lifted |
| of Georgia's environmental innovations. Here's the | | | | at least for a while. |
| latest in Georgia's recycling and environmental | | | | Environmental Protection Division Snaps Down on |
| news. | | | | Water Polluters |
| State Launches Recycling Awareness Ad | | | | After a series of steep fines from the Georgia |
| Campaign | | | | Environmental Protection Division for wastewater |
| Despite having one of the nation's most robust | | | | spills and other pollution infractions, management |
| recycling industries, giving new life to waste from | | | | has changed at a Carrollton water treatment |
| other states, Georgia still seems to be lacking in | | | | facility. A $40,000 fine recently billed to the city |
| recycling awareness. A recent study found that | | | | followed by a similar incident yet to be punished |
| 45% of Georgians still don't recycle regularly, a | | | | seems to have begun a cascade of changes at |
| figure state officials and business leaders find | | | | the city's West Plant. Carrollton officials have hired |
| much too high. With savings of millions of dollars | | | | a contractor to assess the plant, review staff, |
| available and a financial crunch upon us, Georgia | | | | ascertain the source of past problems and fire |
| officials decided to act. | | | | people as needed. |
| The fruits of their thought is a multi-year recycling | | | | Changes were seen as urgent, as the city designs |
| awareness effort across television, radio, the | | | | and completes construction on a new plant and |
| internet and billboards featuring the tag line "You | | | | hopes to turn the page on old, bad and expensive |
| gotta be kidding!" The ads feature people offering | | | | habits. Unity seems to be prevailing among the |
| up common excuses for not recycling and then | | | | city leadership, glad that changes have been made |
| answer the misconceptions. Paid for by the | | | | to prevent similar environmental damages and |
| Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the | | | | regulatory fines. Rindt-McDuff, an engineering firm, |
| campaign aims to get every recyclable out of the | | | | had been leading the project on the new plant, |
| state's landfills. | | | | and now takes over management of the old |
| Watering Bans Lifted After Drought Declared | | | | facility. Officials plan on increasing the level of |
| Over | | | | certification required to work at the plant and fire |
| For almost two years most of Northern Georgia | | | | those employees unwilling or unable to meet the |
| has been under strict outdoor watering bans as a | | | | standards. |
| response to serious drought and dangerously low | | | | |