Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful 01/08/17

ALBANY

2 THE ALBANY HERALD • KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL • Sunday, January 8, 2017 • www.albanyherald.com

What Is Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful? Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful (KADB) is a joint venture of the Albany City Commission and the Dougherty County Commission. KADB is one of more than 700 certified affiliates of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., which is a non-profit public education organization dedicated to environmentally improving communities. KADB works through local businesses and industries and interested civic and governmental groups to identify, develop, and coordinate programs that address relevant community environmental issues. We believe that through education and community involvement we will encourage a sense of pride and responsibility in all citizens, which will promote a cohesive and more environmentally responsible community. KADB special projects include The Great American Cleanup, Duncan D. Trash Litter Containers, Electronic Recycling, Adopt-A-Highway, Clean Business Month, Adopt-A-Road, America Recycles Day, Adopt-A-Spot, Tree Plantings, Arbor Day, Earth Day, Duncan D. Trash, Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, Recycling Drop-Off Sites, Litter Free School Zone, Office Recycling, Make A Difference Day, Rivers Alive, Water Festival, Operation Pill Drop, Call to Service and Graffiti Abatement. Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful can be reached at P. O. Box 4868, 2106 Habersham Road, Albany, Ga. 31706 or by calling (229) 430-5257. Facebook and www.albany.ga.us

Jeanette Henderson, Chairperson Dennis Barthelemy, Vice Chairperson Virginia Johnson, Treasurer MEMBERS Jillian Amaya Fran Brown Joanne Conger Richard Crowdis Lew Culpepper Jackie Dixon Bernard Goins Michael Grier Dorea Hardy Shalonda Heard Melissa Hodges Jon Howard Tim McClelland Robert Metts Bill Reilly Samuel Sneed Nealy Stapleton Sharon D. Subadan J. D. Sumner Melissa Sumner Lisa Whittaker Willie Wingfield KADB OFFICE STAFF Julia W. Bowles, Executive Director LaVerne Levins, Project Manager P.O. Box 4868 2106 Habersham Rd Albany, GA 31706 (229) 430-5257

KABB BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DID YOU KNOW ...

It is unlawful to place signs of ANY KIND within the right-of-way of any public street or highway. Signs attached to utility poles, as well as free standing signs placed on public property, are placed there illegally.

Citizens can assist by advertising only on their property and/or by using local media outlets.

Businesses can assist by instructing their lawn care employees to remove all illegally placed signs that abut their property.

KADB designed a city sign to remind citizens not to post signs on public right-of-ways.

KADB’s Clean Business of the Year announced In 1990 Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful’s (KADB) Business and Industry Committee developed and implemented a new program called “ The Clean Business Salute”. This committee, made up of local business representatives, realized how important it was for our community to be visually attractive. Today this program continues to be a corner stone in KADB’s environmental structure, which recognizes businesses that understand that the visual appearance of their business has a direct economic developmental impact on our entire

community. All businesses are eligible to be selected as a monthly Clean Business winner and anyone can call the KADB office at 4305257 to submit a recommendation. The business is inspected for the cleanliness of their grounds, including the back of their property, loading dock area and the dumpster area. The property must be clear of litter, well groomed and visually attractive. The Albany Herald has partnered with KADB in this project by announcing the monthly winner with a salute in The Albany Herald.

Congratulations goes to our 2016 Clean Business of the year:

THE COACH HOUSE AND GARDENS 1308 Dawson Rd This business is featured on the cover of this Go Green, Albany! issue. Their grounds are always immaculate, clean and colorful. They are to be commended for their assistance in keeping our community looking its best.

TREE ORDINANCE It is illegal to remove trees on any COMMERCIAL property without a PERMIT. It is also illegal to remove or alter public trees located on right-of-ways.

FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING A NO FEE PERMIT, CALL THE CITY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AT: (229) 883-6955

THE ALBANY HERALD • KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL • Sunday, January 8, 2017 • www.albanyherald.com 3

Proper Disposal of Paint Household paints and solvents contain chemicals that can endanger our health and the environment around us if they are not disposed of PROPERLY.

kitty litter to absorb the paint. Allow to dry completely, then place it inside your roll out garbage container for disposal.

*ONLY purchase the amount of paint that you need. If you have paint left over, consider applying a second or third coat until all paint is used or use it on closets, the underside of steps, fences, dog houses, attics, etc.

*Paint thinners, mineral spirits, and turpentine CAN BE REUSED. Place a lid on the container that you cleaned your brushes in…let the paint particles settle to the bottom of the container. After several days pour the liquid through a coffee filter into a clean, closeable container for reuse on a future project.

*Donate unused paint to community outreach groups, schools, churches, theatre groups, or local shelters.

*NEVER pour paint on the ground or into a storm drain system because it will contaminate our water supply.

Recommendation:

*Once the steel paint can is EMPTY AND DRY, you may reuse it…place it inside your roll out garbage container for disposal…or if it has NO paint residue you can RECYCLE IT. *An alternative for the disposal of LATEX PAINT…remove the paint lid, or leave the lid on and punch holes in it, let the paint sit for two weeks in a dry area to allow the liquid to evaporate. The remaining dry pigments are now solid and ready for disposal. (This process will NOT work with oil base paint.) *You can mix LATEX or OIL BASE paints with

Illegal Dumping Prevention Illegal dumping is the unlawful disposal of everything from household trash, yard waste, furniture, junk, construction/demolition materials, and tires in any area other than an approved disposal site. ILLEGAL DUMPING IS A CRIMINAL ACT. Illegal dumping is not only unsightly, but it's a serious environmental problem that creates health hazards. Public awareness, education, and enforcement are the key to addressing this growing problem. It will take a concerted effort on the part of individuals, businesses, and government working together at the grassroots level to effectively deal with illegal dumping. To report information on illegal waste hauling or dumping call the code enforcement department at 438-3913. To assist you in describing the incident you witnessed, the following details outline the type of information that code enforcement officials need.

1. What happened? 2. Where did the activity take place? (Name the highway, road, street or nearest intersection) 3. When did the activity occur? (Time and Date) 4. What kind of vehicle was involved? (A pickup, dump truck, van, make and model of vehicle, color, license number) 5. How many people were in the vehicle? Describe them. (Race, sex, approximate age) 6. Describe the person who physically did the illegal dumping. (Race, sex, age, weight, height, hair, etc.) You should NEVER approach anyone you suspect of a criminal act. It is more important for you to provide accurate details of the offense to enforcement officials.

4 THE ALBANY HERALD • KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL • Sunday, January 8, 2017 • www.albanyherald.com

PAPER/DOCUMENT SHREDDING

May 13, 2017 • September 16, 2017 9:00 am til 1:00 pm Civic Center Back Parking Lot

M a yo r H ubba r d’s “ Ca l l to Se rvic e” Pro jec t The “Call to Service” initiative is an agreement between the adopter and the Mayor of Albany in a joint effort to make our community a cleaner, safer and more beautiful place to live, work and play.

Ca l l 3 11 to Reg is ter

Sponsored by Mayor Dorothy Hubbard Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful River Mill Data Management

What Is Litter? Litter is misplaced, improperly handled, uncontainerized solid waste. When it’s bagged and placed in closed receptacles, waste cannot become litter!

Where Does Litter Come From? The seven main sources of litter are: 1. Household trash 2. Commercial and business trash 3. Loading dock refuse 4. Construction site material 5. Uncovered trucks hauling loose materials 6. Motorists 7. Pedestrians From these sources, litter is carried in every direction by wind, water, and traffic. It moves until trapped by a curb, wall, fence, a row of trees, a building, or other stationary object. Once trapped, litter becomes not only an eyesore, but an invitation for people to add more.

Why Do People Litter? Research has shown the main factor attributed to littering is attitude. People feel that it’s okay to litter in certain situations. • Where litter is cleaned up periodically (Shopping center parking lots or theatres, for example)

• Where they feel no sense of ownership (As in public parks, on city streets, or rented homes) • Where there is already an accumulation of litter (At illegal “dumps” or where litter is trapped)

Ways You Can Help: • Report problem areas that need to be cleaned up. • Involve your business or organization in a clean-up project. • Organize a neighborhood clean-up. Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful will help you with the planning. • Containerize all Waste Making sure your outdoor receptacles are securely closed will prevent spillage and spreading. Work with city collection agencies when handling large items, brush, leaves and other special materials. • Don’t add to the problem Remember, keeping our community beautiful is a job for each of us. No matter where you are, please put waste material in proper trash receptacles, or carry it with you until you find a container. • Join Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful for the city’s annual community-wide litter cleanup event held on the THIRD SATURDAY in April. Participants receive a FREE t-shirt, gloves and trash bags. Call 430-5257 to register.

THE ALBANY HERALD • KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL • Sunday, January 8, 2017 • www.albanyherald.com 5

What you can do to reduce waste in the office? You can reduce the amount of waste generated in your office by following these guidelines for reusing and recycling. Not only will you be helping the environment, you’ll be saving your company money! Actions speak louder • Make double-sided copies and set the copier to duplex as the default. • Use e-mail for correspondence. • Print drafts in a lighter font. • Use reusable envelopes for internal mail. • Use a reusable mug for coffee. • Purchase condiments such as sugar and creamer in bulk instead of individual serving packages. • Post personnel or human resource information (e.g. phone directory and annual benefit packages) electronically. • Provide a short lesson on how to use various pieces of office equipment to avoid excess waste generated by trial and error. • Use the least toxic correction fluid or correction tape. • Reduce the image so that two pages can be copied on one page, often called “image combination.” • Use Post-it (R) fax notes instead of a fax cover sheet. • Copy-on-demand instead of mass copying. • Circulate one copy of a document or memo rather than making multiple copies. Donate or Reuse? Before you recycle or throw away an item, check to see if it can be reused.

Material that can be recycled in Albany • mixed paper • plastic bottles • aluminum cans • newspaper • magazines • toner cartridges • printer cartridges • corrugated cardboard • glass • batteries • paper board Donate: • furniture, computers, binders, and styrofoam peanuts to a non-profit or school. • Attach a piece of clear tape before you place a label on a file folder - when you want to use the folder again, simply remove the old label and replace it with a new one. Reuse: • “half-used” paper (or paper that has information on only one side and is blank on the other side) to print drafts. • Store excess office supplies in a central location. • Check to see if the item you are throwing away can be recycled. Many items commonly found in an office are recyclable. Buying recycled Close the loop by purchasing recycled content products. There are thousands of products made with recycled content including: clothing, soda bottles, pencils, insulation, index cards, mouse pads, mulch, playground equipment, steel appliances, carpet and paper.

Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful (KADB) coordinates an office recycling program for the Albany-Dougherty business community. Participants receive a Business Recycling Salute magnetic window decal to place on their front door and a KADB Business Recycling certificate. Participants are also publicly acknowledged in The Albany

Herald in January and offered free desk recycling containers for each desk in their office. Participation in this environmental project says to your employees and your customers that you are committed to improving the environment in OUR community. Call 430-5257 for sign-up information.

OUTDOOR WATER USE INFORMATION The Georgia Water Stewardship Act went into effect statewide on June 2, 2010. It allows daily outdoor watering for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants only between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. by anyone whose water is supplied by a water system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division. Outdoor water use for any purpose other

than watering of plants, such as power washing or washing cars, is still restricted to the current odd / even watering schedule. Odd-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Even-numbered and unnumbered addresses are allowed to water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. For additional information go to www.georgiaepd.org.

HOW TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF OUTDATED/UNWANTED MEDICATIONS NEVER FLUSH MEDICATION

Medications thrown in the trash can leach into the environment, flushed drugs can kill bacteria that break down waste in our waste water treatment plant, medications can damage septic systems, and can contaminate nearby waterways and harm aquatic wildlife. The Albany Dougherty Drug Unit partners with KADB every September to host “Operation Pill Drop”. The event gives citizens an opportunity to properly dispose of unwanted/outdated medications. The 2016 event will take place on September 17th from 9:00 til 1:00 in the back parking lot of the Civic Center. A permanent medication drop off box is located on the first floor of the Judicial building at 225 Pine Avenue.

6 THE ALBANY HERALD • KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL • Sunday, January 8, 2017 • www.albanyherald.com

GET THE MOST OUT OF RAIN Ideas for creating a rain-friendly yard Jeremy Morris, City of Albany Engineering Department

Redirect downspouts Take full advantage of the rain that comes off your roof by making sure that your downspouts deposit rainwater where it can be put to good use. Redirect downspouts to gardens, grassy areas, rain barrels — places where water can infiltrate the ground and roots of plants, decreasing the amount of water that goes down storm drains. Rain is naturally soft water and devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride, and other harmful chemicals. The chemicals and hard water from many of our municipal water systems can add to chemical imbalances in soil and damage sensitive plants. Rainwater from the roofs of houses picks up very little contamination, and is very healthy for plants. Use extension gutters or splash blocks to help direct the flow of water if your downspout isn’t long enough. If directing stormwater to a yard, try to discharge the water at least five feet from foundations to prevent potential leakage into the house.

Why disconnect your downspout? Downspouts that connect directly to storm drainage pipes increase the risk of storm drainage overflow and flooding. Disconnecting your downspout from a storm drainage pipe, then redirecting the flow of water to a grassy area or garden is a simple process that makes a big difference to the environment.

Save water with rain barrels A rain barrel is a container that collects and

stores rainwater from downspouts and rooftops for future use, watering lawns and gardens. Generally a rain barrel is made using a 55-gallon drum, a vinyl garden hose, PVC couplings, a screen grate to remove debris and keep insects out, and other materials found at neighborhood hardware stores. Rain barrels can be constructed in a number of ways, but they all serve the same purpose — to collect rainwater and decrease the amount of stormwater runoff that leaves your property. During the summer months it is estimated that nearly 40 percent of household water is used for lawn and garden maintenance. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for those times that you need it most — during the dry summer months. Using rain barrels potentially helps homeowners lower water bills, while also improving the vitality of plants, flowers, trees, and lawns.

Build a rain garden A great way to complement your rain barrel and increase your property’s ability to absorb runoff is through a rain garden. Rain gardens can be a fun and easy way to learn about beautiful native plants as well as help to improve water quality and re-

duce flooding. Rain gardens typically absorb much more water than the same size area of lawn. They are drought resistant, winter hardy and less prone to destructive insects and diseases. Rain gardens create a preferred habitat for birds, butterflies and dragonflies. These specialty gardens are versatile; they can be any size or shape imaginable, but to maximize their benefit you should build them in an existing low spot or near the drainage area of your rain barrel or downspout.

Rain, roofs and runoff Did you know that each downspout on a house can drain approximately 12 gallons of water per minute during a one-inch rainfall? If managed properly, the water that flows off rooftops can help keep lawns and gardens green while lowering utility bills during spring and summer months. However, most downspouts send rainwater down driveways, sidewalks, and underground pipes that lead to storm drains. This “stormwater runoff” picks up pollutants from motor oil, lawn chemicals, and pet waste along the way, before entering lakes and streams untreated. The large amount of untreated water entering the storm sewer system — and eventually our streams and lakes — has lasting health, safety, environmental and economic impacts on communities. Fortunately, there are many things that property owners can do to put rainwater to good use while reducing the amount of stormwater runoff that ends up in local waterways.

The problem with pavement During the construction of homes, roads and office buildings vegetation is often removed and replaced by large paved areas. These surfaces keep rain from infiltrating the soil and recharging groundwater supplies. The infiltration process helps clean water and feed the underground springs that supply drinking water. Paved surfaces also increase the speed and amount of water that rushes into streams, causing stream bank erosion and harming wildlife habitats. Direct the flow of water from downspouts away from paved surfaces whenever possible.

THE ALBANY HERALD • KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL • Sunday, January 8, 2017 • www.albanyherald.com 7

Dougherty County Landfill

Litter and Our Waterways

Scott Addison Landfill Director

By Jillian Amaya Dougherty County Engineering Department

The Dougherty County-Fleming/Gaissert Road Municipal Solid Waste Landfill is located approximately four miles southeast of Albany, Georgia. The Landfill is located on Gaissert Road and is bounded to the North by Fleming Road and the United States Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB). The Landfill property consists of approximately 600 acres with approximately 200 acres adjoining for soil borrow material for landfill operations. The first load of waste was received at the site in February 1983. The site consists of a closed Sanitary Landfill, an operational “Subtitle D” Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, a Construction/Demolition Waste Landfill, a solidification operation, a recycling station, a convenience center for public drop off of garbage and white goods and administrative offices. The Landfill also has an active gas extraction system. The landfill gas fuels a cogeneration plant that generates electricity and steam for MCLB operations. The green energy project has been operational since 2011 and allows MCLB to produce approximately 20% renewable energy, which helps the base meet congressionally mandated goals for renewable energy. As a result, the project has won multiple awards including EPA’s 2013 Energy Star Award.

The Landfill is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm and on Saturday from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm. The Landfill accepts waste generated in Dougherty County as well as out of county waste. Homeowners residing in Dougherty County can bring up to 250 pounds of garbage per day at no cost. Any additional garbage will be prorated up to the gate rate of $38.97 per ton. Credit cards, checks and cash are all acceptable methods of payment. White goods such as stoves, refrigerators and freezers may be brought to the Landfill at no charge. All coolant must be removed from refrigerators and freezers before delivery. Please solidify paint using absorbent (e.g., kitty litter) or sand prior to transporting to the Landfill. Tires cannot be commingled with solid waste and should be brought separately to the Landfill. There is a designated tire disposal area onsite that customers will be directed to place tires. A fee of $1.00 per tire, $4.00 per truck off-road tire and $40.00 per farm tractor tire will be charged. The Landfill does not accept lead acid batteries. Only non-hazardous waste may be disposed of at the Landfill. Any liquid waste or special waste must be approved prior to shipment to the Landfill. For questions, please call (229) 4201050.

Litter is a significant source of stormwater pollution. Litter and debris cause storm drain blockages that lead to flooding, impairs water quality, and affects the aesthetic and recreational values of water. So, how does litter get into our waterways? The two most common ways are through stormwater runoff and illegal dumping. Stormwater runoff occurs when water from rain flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent water from naturally soaking into the ground, which causes an excess of stormwater. As the stormwater runoff flows over the impervious surfaces, it can pick up pollutants on the ground, such as oils, grease, and litter. It will then flow directly into storm systems like holding ponds and canals, or even directly into the Flint River, untreated. The second way litter gets into our storm systems and waterways is through illegal dumping. Illegal dumping is the unlawful disposal of everything from household trash, furniture, junk, and tires in any area other than an approved disposal site.

Often times, household items, furniture, and even shopping carts are dumped in the holding ponds and canals that make up Dougherty County’s stormwater system. When litter gets into holding ponds and canals, it can seriously impact the effectiveness of the storm system. Holding ponds are designed to provide flood protection, but when there’s an excess of litter and debris, it can cause blockages that can lead to flooding. It can also damage storm drains and holding ponds during heavy rain events, which can cost thousands of dollars to repair, and all because of litter. You can prevent litter from entering our waterways throwing all waste in trash cans, taking any larger items like household goods, furniture, and tires to the landfill, and keeping any trash out of truck beds to prevent them from being blown on the ground. Never sweep or blow leaves or lawn clippings into a storm drain inlet. Instead, sweep them up and put them in a compost pile or bag them for yard waste collection. Remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle all materials whenever possible.

8 THE ALBANY HERALD • KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL • Sunday, January 8, 2017 • www.albanyherald.com

TIPS TO SPOT TREE DEFECTS FOR PRIVATE URBAN LANDOWNERS By Ili Si Malone, ISA Certified Arborist, GA Registered Landscape Architect, City Arborist, Engineering Department, City of Albany As City Arborist, I am often contacted by our citizens regarding tree issues including, but not limited to, hazardous defects. Hazardous defects are visible signs that a tree is failing. There are seven (7) main types of tree defects: dead wood, cracks, weak branch unions, decay, cankers, root problems, and poor tree architecture. A tree with defects is not hazardous, however, unless some portion of it is within striking distance of a target, i.e., building, play equipment, picnic tables, road, vehicles, etcetera.

Dead Wood Dead wood is “not negotiable”-dead trees and large dead branches must be removed immediately. Dead trees and branches are unpredictable and can break and fall at any time. Dead wood is often dry and brittle and cannot bend in the wind like a living tree or branch. Dead branches and tree tops that are already broken off (“hangers” or “widow makers”) are especially dangerous. See photo. Take immediate action if… • A broken branch or top is lodged in a tree. • A tree is dead. • A branch is dead and of sufficient size to cause in jury (this will vary with height and size of branch).

Cracks A crack is a deep split through the bark, extending into the wood of the tree. Cracks are extremely dangerous because they indicate that the tree is already failing. Take action if… A crack extends deeply into, or completely, through the stem. • Two or more cracks occur in the same general area of the stem. • A crack is in contact with another defect. • A branch of significant size to cause injury is cracked.

Weak Branch Unions Weak branch unions are places where branches are not strongly attached to the tree. A weak union occurs when two or more similarly-sized, usually upright branches grow so closely together that bark grows between the branches, inside the union. The ingrown bark does not have the structural strength of wood, and the union is much weaker than one that does not have included bark. The included bark may also act as a wedge and force the branch union to split apart. Trees with a tendency to form upright branches, such as maple and elm, often produce weak branch unions. Take action if… • A weak branch union occurs to the main stem. • A weak branch union is cracked. • A weak branch union is associated with a crack, cavity, or other defect.

Decay Decaying trees can be prone to failure, but the presence of decay, by itself, does not indicate that the tree is hazardous. Advanced decay, i.e., wood that is soft, punky, or crumbly, or a cavity where wood is missing can create a serious hazard. Evidence of fungal activity including mushrooms, conks, and brackets growing on root flares, stems, or branches are indicators of advanced decay. A tree usually decays from the inside out, eventually forming a cavity, but sound wood is also added to the outside of the tree as it grows. Trees with sound outer wood shells may be relatively safe, but this depends upon the ratio of sound to decayed wood, and other defects that might be present. Evaluating the safety of a decayed tree is usually best left to trained arborists. Take action if… • Advanced decay is associated with cracks, weak branch unions, or other defects. • A branch of sufficient size to cause injury is decayed. • The thickness of sound wood is less than 1” for every 6” of diameter at any point on the stem.

Cankers A canker is a localize area on the stem or branch of a tree, where the bark is sunken or missing. Cankers are caused by wounding or disease. The presence of a canker increases the chance of the stem breaking near the canker. A tree with a canker that encompasses more than half of the tree’s circumference may be hazardous even if exposed wood appears sound. Take action if… • A canker or multiple cankers affect more than half of the tree’s circumference. • A canker is physically connected to a crack, weak branch union, a cavity, or other defect.

Root Problems Trees with root problems may blow over in wind storms. They may even fall without warning in summer when burdened with the weight of the tree’s leaves. There are many kinds of root problems to consider, e.g., severing or paving-over roots; raising or lowering the soil grade near the tree; parking or driving vehicles over the roots; or extensive root decay. Soil mounding, twig dieback, dead wood in the crown, and off-color or smaller than normal leaves are symptoms often associated with root problems. Because most defective roots are underground and out of sight, aboveground symptoms may serve as the best warning.

Take action if… • A tree is leaning with recent root exposure, soil movement, or soil mounding neat the base of the tree. • More than half of the roots under the tree’s crown

have been cut or crushed. These trees are dangerous because they do not have adequate structural support from the root system. • Advanced decay is present in the root flares or “buttress” roots.

Poor Tree Architecture Poor architecture is a growth pattern that indicates weakness or structural imbalance. Trees with strange shapes are interesting to look at, but may be structurally defective. Poor architecture often arises after many years of damage from storms, unusual growing conditions, improper pruning, topping, and other damage. A leaning tree may be a hazard. Because not all leaning trees are dangerous, any leaning tree of concern should be examined by a professional arborist. Take action if… • A tree is leaning excessively. • A large branch is out of proportion with the rest of the crown. Multiple Defects • The recognition of multiple defects in a tree is critical when evaluating the tree’s potential to fail. Multiple defects that are touching or are close to one another should be carefully examined. If more than one defect occurs on the tree’s main stem, you should assume that the tree is extremely hazardous. Please cite this publication as follows: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and USDA Forest Service. 1996. How to Recognize Hazardous Defects in Trees. USDA Forest Service NAFR-01-96. 20 pp.

THE ALBANY HERALD • KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL • Sunday, January 8, 2017 • www.albanyherald.com 9

GRAFFITI

Go Green! at your festival or event Bring RECYCLING to a higher level. It’s easy: CALL Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful @ 229-430-5257 to reserve the FREE Away From Home Recycling Trailer PICK UP the trailer the day before your event SET UP the recycle and trash bins COLLECT the materials DELIVER the recyclables to a city recycle drop off site RETURN the trailer

C i g a re t t e B u t t s ar e L i t t e r! and they are toxic The visual appearance of our community could literally change overnight. Between dusk and dawn on any given day a neighborhood, business, or residence could undergo a transformation which, if no immediate action is taken, can ultimately have a profound impact on our entire community.

WHAT IS GRAFFITI? Graffiti is not a victimless crime, nor is it a form of art. Graffiti is the deliberate defacing of public and private property without the owner's permission. GRAFFITI HURTS • Graffiti hurts every child, parent, business owner and taxpayer. • Merchants lose business because customers feel the neighborhood is no longer safe. • Graffiti vandals are at an increased

risk of becoming involved in shoplifting or other criminal activities. • When left untouched, graffiti sends the wrong message: We are no longer in control. We can’t keep order in our community. • Graffiti that is tolerated invites more of the same. WHAT CAN YOU DO? • Remove graffiti immediately from your property. • Keep your property well lit, clean, and landscaped. • Plant shrubs with prickly or thorny foliage near walls and fences. • Join and/or organize a neighborhood watch. • Discuss respecting public and private property with your children. • Report all graffiti to the Albany Police Department at 431-3288 or to Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful at 430-5257 or call 311.

DID YOU KNOW ... • Smokers discard BILLIONS of cigarette butts each year. • A large percentage of cigarette butts are “tossed” directly into the environment. • Cigarette butts accumulate outside of buildings, in parking lots and on streets where they can be transported through our storm drains into our streams and rivers. • Cigarette filters look like cotton, but are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic that is slow to degrade in the environment. • A pack and a half a day equals more than 10,000 cigarettes a year. 10,000 cigarette butts are equivalent, in volume, to five liters. • Nicotine is a powerful insecticide and, in its pure form, among the deadliest of all plants products. • Tobacco residue, along with the toxic chemicals left in cigarette filters that are tossed as butts, quickly leach into our water supply. *Cigarette butts are the most common type of litter on earth. *Cigarette butts harm our environment. PLEASE DISPOSE OF CIGARETTE BUTTS PROPERLY

WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE OF RECYCLING? According to ISRI based on data from the United Nations Comtrade database, in 2015 190 million tons of scrap, valued at more than $80 billion, were exported globally. U.S. scrap recyclers processed more than 130 million tons of scrap metal, paper, plastic, electronics, textiles, glass, and rubber last year,

creating significant energy savings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving natural resource, and limiting the amount of material that would otherwise be sent to landfills. In addition to these critical environmental benefits, the scrap recycling industry also provides much needed support to the U. S. economy and trade balance. The United States exported more than 37 million metric

tons of scrap commodities valued at $17.5 billion to more than 150 countries around the world. Domestically, independent research confirmed that the scrap recycling industry directly and indirectly supported more than 470,000 well-paying jobs while generating nearly $106 billion in economic activity and $11.2 billion federal, state, and local tax revenue in 2015.