KEEP ALBANY-DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL 01/06/2019

BANY!

GO GREEN AL

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Find out what you can do in the Albany area to help the environment!

Sunday, January 6, 2019

KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL | THE ALBANY HERALD | Sunday, January 6, 2019

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What Is Keep AlbanyDougherty Beautiful?

K

eep 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’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

Congratulations

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.dougherty.ga.us

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KADB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairperson Jeanette Henderson Vice Chairperson Dennis Barthelemy Secretary J. D. Sumner Treasurer Virginia Johnson MEMBERS Jillian Amaya Barry Brooks Fran Brown Joanne Conger Lew Culpepper Michara Delaney Jackie Dixon Michael Grier Dorea Hardy Melissa Hodges

Jon Howard Leslie Hudson Eddie McBride Tim McClelland Michael McCoy Robert Metts Donna Murphy Bill Reilly Samuel Sneed Willie Wingfield KADB OFFICE STAFF Executive Director Julia W. Bowles Project Manager LaVerne Levins P.O. Box 4868 2106 Habersham Rd Albany, GA 31706 (229) 430-5257

community.

All businesses are eligible to be selected as a monthly Clean Business winner and anyone can call the KADB office at 430-5257 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.

goes to our 2018 Clean Business of the year:

AMERICAN PEANUT SHELLERS CORPORATION 2336 Lake Park Drive

Their grounds are always immaculate, clean and colorful. They are to be commended for their assistance in keeping our community looking its best.

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.

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 PERMIT, CALL THE CITY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AT: (229) 883-6955

Sunday, January 6, 2019 | THE ALBANY HERALD | KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL

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LITTER

Facts & Figures

• Tobacco products comprised about 38% of all litter on roadways in the U. S.

• Pedestrians contribute to over 98% of all litter at leisure areas such as parks, beaches, and other areas.

And most roadway litter – 76% - appears to originate from motorists and pedestrians. Individual actions by motorists (52%, pedestrians (22.8%), improperly covered trucks and cargo loads (16.4%), and other behaviors are the source of roadway litter.

• The indirect costs of litter on quality-of-life are considerable. Indirect costs include the degree to which litter reduces the value of real estate, deters a customer from entering a business, or a new employer from locating to a community. To measure these impacts of litter, the 2009 KAB study surveyed homeowners, realtors, and business development officials.

• The presence of litter in a community decreases property value by 7%.

• Of homeowners surveyed, 40% believe that litter reduces home values by 10% to 24%.

• 55% of realtors think that litter reduces property values by about 9%.

• Storm drains attract a significant amount of litter, albanyherald.com

Easy Ways to Keep YOUR Neighborhood Clean

Always recycle on the go…. hold on to your recyclables until you can get to a recycling container.

Lead by example and don’t litter!

The less litter in an area, the more likely people will keep it clean.

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which ultimately ends up in our waterways.

• On average, there are 6,700 pieces of litter per mile on U. S. roadways each year.

• Fast-food packaging represents about 5% of all litter in the U. S.

• Vacant properties cost city governments anywhere from $5,000 to $35, 000 per property.

• Each year, at least 8 million tons of plastics leak into the ocean. That figure is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute.

• Keep America Beautiful affiliates across the U. S. clean, beautify, and improve over 100,000 miles of roads, parks, shorelines, and waterways each year.

• Recreational sites that are well landscaped and near residential areas are less likely to have litter. To prevent litter: make proper disposal convenient and accessible, provide sufficient trash, ash, and recycling receptacles, ensure consistent and ongoing cleanup efforts, and make the most of awareness and motivational campaigns.

• With the vast increase in plastic use over the past few decades, the amount of plastic in the litter stream has increased over 165%.

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Set a goal to pick up a piece of litter every day.

Keep the front of your home and surrounding areas clean and inviting with flowers, plants and wreaths. Don’t forget to mow your lawn!

Teach children to properly dispose of litter and to recycle.

Organize a community initiative – community garden, neighborhood watch group, yard sale, etc.

Place a litter bag or box in your vehicle and cover your pickup loads to prevent littering.

Adopt your road and keep it clean.

Keep storm drains free of all debris.

Revitalize or clean up a local park.

Report graffiti to KADB at (229) 4305257.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by carpooling or using public transporta-

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tion.

Report junk vehicles to 311.

Get to know your neighbors and look out for each other.

Use reusable bags when shopping to reduce waste.

Properly dispose of cigarette butts.

RECYCLYING DROP-OFF SITES West Albany 2521 Meredyth Drive At Fire Station #6 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. & Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Downtown Albany At The Intersection of Front Street and Mercer Avenue Behind The James H. Gray, Sr. Civic Center Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. & Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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.

KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL | THE ALBANY HERALD | Sunday, January 6, 2019

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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

Mayor Hubbard’s “Call to Service” Project 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.

Call 311 to Register

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.

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Where litter is cleaned up periodically (Shopping center parking lots or theatres, for example) Where they feel no sense of ownership

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(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: •

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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.

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Don’t add to the problem

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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.

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.

PAPER/DOCUMENT SHREDDING May 11, 2019 • September 14, 2019 9:00 am til 1:00 pm Civic Center Back Parking Lot

FREE ONSITE Sponsored by Mayor Dorothy Hubbard Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful River Mill Data Management Sunday, January 6, 2019 | THE ALBANY HERALD | KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL

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OUTDOOR WATER USE INFORMATION

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he 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.

Odd-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Even-numbered and unnumbered addresses are allowed to water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

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.

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 Septem-

ber to host “Operation Pill Drop”.

The event gives citizens an opportunity to properly dispose of unwanted/outdated medications. The 2019 event will take place on September 14th 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.

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ou 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 • • • • • •

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Business RECYCLING Salute

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Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful 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 albanyherald.com

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.

What you can do to reduce waste in the office?

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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.

Make double-sided copies and set the copier to duplex as the default.

Donate:

Print drafts in a lighter font.

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Use e-mail for correspondence.

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.

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: •

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“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.

Use the least toxic correction fluid or correction tape.

Buying recycled

Use Post-it fax notes instead of a fax cover sheet.

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.

Reduce the image so that two pages can be copied on one page, often called “image combination.”

Copy-on-demand instead of mass copying.

Close the loop by purchasing recycled content products.

Material that can be recycled in Albany • • • • • •

mixed paper plastic bottles aluminum cans newspaper magazines toner cartridges

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printer cartridges

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glass

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corrugated cardboard batteries

paper board

KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL | THE ALBANY HERALD | Sunday, January 6, 2019

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Common Questions Regarding Stormwater Pollution and Prevention

By Jillian Amaya, Dougherty County Public Works

tormwater runoff is a major cause of water pollution, but many people don’t know what it is. Below are questions I frequently receive about stormwater, pollution, and what we can do to prevent it.

Q: What is stormwater?

A: Stormwater runoff is untreated water created from rain or melting snow that does not soak into the ground, but instead runs into storm drainage systems and nearby waterways.

Q: What is a storm drainage system?

A: A storm drainage system is a network of pipes, catch basins, holding ponds, ditches, and canals that are designed to carry stormwater runoff. The runoff is eventually discharged into local streams, rivers, and the ocean completely untreated.

Q: How does it become polluted?

A: When rainfall hits impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, and roads, it picks up pollutants. While water that soaks into the soil is filtered naturally, water that flows over the surface of developed properties pick up pollutants like oil, pesticides,

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pet waste, sediment, litter, and fertilizer.

When the runoff enters the storm drainage system, it is eventually discharged into the Flint River, completely untreated.

Q: Does our changing landscape effect stormwater pollution?

A: Yes. Stormwater runoff is made worse by the recent significant increase in impervious surfaces. This is because there is less natural land cover for stormwater to soak into the ground. Instead, it’s discharged into our rivers, which not only pollutes them, but can cause harmful effects to the river’s hydrology. Stream bank erosion causes an increased amount of sediment transport, widens stream channels, and damages the ecosystems of the fish, bugs, and other creatures that live in rivers.

Q: How can we prevent stormwater pollution?

A: The best way to prevent stormwater pollution is to avoid polluting in the first place. Often we don’t even realize that our everyday activities can contribute to stormwater pollution. Here are some common ways to prevent polluting stormwater and our local waterways: You can prevent litter from getting into the

Maintain Your Septic System Robert Griffin, Assistant City Engineering Director

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drainage system and waterways by throwing all waste into trash cans and taking any large items like household goods, furniture, and tires to the landfill.

While doing yard work, never sweep or blow leaves or lawn clippings into the street or storm drain inlet. Instead, sweep it up and put it in a compost pile or bag the clippings for yard waste collection. When using pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, make sure to follow the directions and

eptic systems can contribute to source water contamination for various reasons, including improper location of the system, poor design, faulty construction, incorrect operation, and poor or no maintenance of the system. Malfunctioning or overflowing septic systems release bacteria and nutrients into the water cycle. Nutrients can cause algae blooms and excessive plant growth in lakes. Increased bacteria levels in groundwater, lakes and streams can present a public safety issue. By following the basic recommendations below, you can help ensure that your system continues to function properly.

• Inspect your septic system annually.

• Pump out your septic system regularly. (Pumping out every three to five years is recommended for a threebedroom house with a 1,000-gal-

apply only the recommended amount.

When walking the dog, make sure to bring a bag to pick up any waste and dispose of it in the trash.

Correctly dispose of all hazardous waste, paints, solvents, cleaning fluids, oils, and grease. Never pour anything down the storm drain.

Remember, only rain down the drain!

lon tank, smaller tanks should be pumped more often.

• Do not divert storm drains or basement pumps into septic systems.

• Don’t flush trash. Excess solids can clog drain fields.

• Don’t drive over the system or the drain field. This can compact the soil and break the piping of the system.

• Check for signs of system failure, such as areas in the yard that remain moist during dry times, or spots of excessive grass or plant growth. If you see signs of failure, schedule an inspection and repairs immediately.

• If you sell your home, inform the new owner about your septic system and share maintenance records.

• Don’t Compound the Problem.

Avoid using septic tank cleaning

Sunday, January 6, 2019 | THE ALBANY HERALD | KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL

compounds. They do not help the system function better and can impair the tank’s efficiency, damaging the drain field.

• Garbage In, Garbage Out. Kitchen scraps and other throw away items (such as coffee grounds) deposited in garbage disposals are an additional burden on septic systems. They increase the load of solids into the tank, decrease capacity and shorten the interval between pumpings. Simply dispose of kitchen scraps in the trash. Or you can create a compost pile in a convenient location in your yard.

Septic tanks are out of sight and out of mind - until there’s a problem. Proper operation and maintenance of your septic system can save you money, protect your family’s health, and protect area streams and rivers.

albanyherald.com

Dougherty County Landfill T S A ,L D cott

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irector

Waste Disposal – A No Brainer F

Monique Broughton, Public Information Officer

or most people, disposal of waste materials is not something they give a lot of thought. As long as the trash is picked up, the toilets flush, the sinks drain, and the stormwater inlets don’t back up, most folks are happy.

However, how citizens dispose of different types of waste can have a significant impact on the city’s systems used for disposal.

Our infrastructure is aged, and pipes can break or collapse! In some cases, sewer issues are caused by system failures. However, many times they are caused by clogged pipes created by people improperly disposing of items down toilets or drains. Items like plastics, rags, and grease do not readily break down and contribute to clogging of pipes and pumps used to convey the wastewater to the plant. Anything that will not break down in the biological process must be removed when it reaches the plant and disposed of in the landfill if it reaches the plant before causing a clogging issue. Suppose you accidentally flushed a baby wipe and it works its way to the sewer system without clogging your pipes, this wipe then joins a pile of rags in the pump station. This pump station will then have to work much harder to move the water through and eventually will fail because the items will not break down to flow through properly. All plastic items, rags, and even “flushable” wipes should be disposed of in the garbage. Grease should be disposed of in the garbage as well, to prevent clogging of households and city-maintained pipes. Any liquid such as grease, should be made into a solid by adding kitty litter or sand prior to being placed in your garbage container.

How you can prevent system blockages: • Don’t pour grease/oil down drains albanyherald.com

• Properly dispose of items that are not biodegradable • Avoid placing trash bags on the curb that are not put in Public Works provided receptacles • Place yard debris away from catch basins • Avoid littering – don’t throw trash from your car • Pick up trash when you see it in your neighborhood Adopting these simple practices can help us maintain our infrastructure.

There are three major systems used to handle waste: the sanitary/combination sewer system, the storm drainage system, and the solid waste (garbage & debris) collection system.

Sanitary Sewer System The first of these systems is the sanitary sewer system, which in the City of Albany includes the combined sewer. In some older parts of the city limits, stormwater and sanitary sewer is conveyed through the same system of pipes (combined sewer) and is treated at the Wastewater Treatment Plant before discharge to the Flint River. During heavy rain events, a portion of the flow which cannot be conveyed to the treatment plant is discharged straight to the Flint River at approved, monitored locations. The sanitary/combined system is designed to carry biodegradable materials to the treatment plant for biological treatment.

Storm Drainage System The second system, the storm drainage system, is designed to drain off excess rainwater that does not percolate into the ground. Inevitably, leaves, dirt, and litter that can be conveyed by the storm runoff will end up in the stormwater drainage system. This debris can also clog pipes, fill ditches, or discharge de-

bris into ponds, lakes or streams. One way to reduce the debris getting into the storm drainage system is to avoid placing yard trimmings and leaves in the gutter or near a storm inlet.

Litter also adds to the issue as it is unsightly and can cause clogging. More times than not, litter is plastic, Styrofoam, or other materials that do not break down naturally. This causes localized flooding after heavy rainfall and can occasionally cause the pumps to fail, resulting in unnecessary spills.

Waste Disposal The third system of waste disposal relies on containers and trucking as opposed to a pipe system. How each waste item is handled depends on the type. Yard debris, leaves, and other natural plant material can be disposed of as “inert” at a lower cost to the city. Construction debris must be handled separately and can go to a Construction & Demolition (C & D) Landfill. Lastly, household waste is disposed of in a municipal solid waste landfill. In order to take advantage of cost savings on the types of materials, each category must be kept separate and not intermingled. The City and Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful (KADB) also provides events during the year for disposing of unused prescription drugs, and electronics which are best kept out of landfills.

As long as the system is used as a trash can it will continue to fail causing overflow spills, increased maintenance, and additional operating costs. So, even though waste disposal generally is not high on most people’s everyday thoughts, a little bit of forethought and effort on everyone’s part can make our disposal systems more efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly.

he 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 that fuels a cogeneration plant which 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 has also just completed an approximately $4 million cell construction project that will provide capacity for about 10 years before another construction project is needed.

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) 420-1050.

KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL | THE ALBANY HERALD | Sunday, January 6, 2019

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TREE RECOVERY FOR HOMEOWNERS FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY

Ili Si Malone, ISA Certified City Arborist

When the storm is over and lives are safe, it’s time to take care of your trees. Remember these rules: Don’t panic. Seek professional help. Evaluate each tree individually.

Here are tips for the days immediately after a storm: Assess the damage and act accordingly: 1. The Keepers If damage is relatively slight, prune any broken branches, repair torn bark or rough edges around the wounds, and let the tree begin the process of wound repair.

2. Minor Damage Although the tree has been damaged, enough strong limbs may remain on a basically healthy tree to make saving it possible.

3. An Easy Call A mature shade tree can usually survive the loss of one major limb.

The broken branch should be pruned back to the trunk.

4. Too Young to Die Young trees recover quickly. If the leader and structure for branching is intact, remove the broken branches so the tree can recover.

5. Easy Does It Resist the temptation to prune too heavily. The tree will need all the foliage it can produce in order to manufacture the food needed to get through the next growing season.

6. Hold Off A healthy, mature tree can recover even when several major limbs are damaged.

A professional arborist should assess damage on a borderline tree to safely remove branches.

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7. Say Goodbye A rotten core in the trunk or structural weakness in branching patterns can cause a split trunk. The wounds are too large to ever mend.

8. Hopeless Case All that is left is the trunk.

The few remaining branches cannot provide enough foliage to enable the tree to survive through another growing season.

9. Topped Tree This tree has lost too much of its leafy crown.

It probably will not grow enough new branches and leaves to provide nourishment and regain its former beautiful shape.

a. Is the person part of an established community business? Check for a reputable website or phone number. Online reviews may also be helpful. b. Has the person provided evidence that they are regularly employed with the company?

Some specialist work as independent contractors and have a limited relationship with the company they claim as their employers. c. Is the person up-to-date on certification? Ask for current certificates of insurance for property damage, personal liability and worker’s compensation. d. Is the person a member of a professional association? While not essential, it is ideal that the individual be a part of a professional association of arborist, such as the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the National Arborist Association (NAA) or the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA).

10. Assess the tree’s likelihood of survival.

A tree with less than half of its branches remaining may not be able to produce enough foliage to remain nourished in the coming seasons.

11. If a tree requires immediate attention, hire a qualified arborist. Arborists are especially important when a tree is leaning against wires, structures or other trees, if utility lines or structures are endangered or if a chainsaw is required.

12. Watch out for scam artists. After a storm, it is common for people claiming to be tree specialists to show up offering their services.

Unfortunately, many of these individuals have little to no training and are simply out to make a quick profit. Legitimate arborists rarely go door-to-door. Here are six questions to guide

Sunday, January 6, 2019 | THE ALBANY HERALD | KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL

you in finding qualified tree-care specialists:

e. Is the person offering a competitive price? If possible, obtain more than one estimate to ensure that the price offered is comparable with competitors. Clarify whether the price includes removal, stump grinding and clean-up. f. Does the person have a current City of Albany Occupation Tax Certificate, i.e. business license? It is unlawful and punishable for any person, firm, company or corporation to engage in any business, trade, profession or occupation in the City of Albany, Georgia, without obtaining an Occupation Tax Certificate (OTC) from the Treasury Division, unless exempted. Each incident of doing business without such occupation tax certificate shall be punishable by law.

The occurrence of the January-2017 storms, Hurricane Michael in October-2018, and the severe thunderstorm in December-2018, severe storm events are becoming the norm in Albany. With proper care, much of the worst damage to trees and property can be prevented for future storms.

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looding of the Flint River Basin has been recorded as far back as 1841.

Since then, there have been over 100 flood occurrences.

The flood stage of the Flint River in Albany is 26 feet. Minor flooding begins at the lower elevations on Front Street, Third Avenue and Highland Avenue.

Twenty-nine floods have been recorded at a stage of 26 feet or higher since 1925.

The flood of July 1994 was the worst flood in Georgia’s recorded flood history. The intense flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Alberto surpassed every other previous flood event.

The immense amount of rainfall in such a short time caused the Flint River watershed to become saturated, flooding the City of Albany with a record crest of 42.7 feet. Five people died in Albany.

Over 7,000 people were left homeless, and repairs were needed on over 12,000 homes. Over 768,000 tons of contaminated flood debris was disposed of in landfills.

Flooding also occurred in March of 1998. Heavy rainfall hit southwestern Georgia on March 3rd and 4th and again on March 7th through the 9th. Major flooding developed along the entire Flint River and crests reached 36.9 feet in Albany.

The most recent floods occurred in April 2009, with a flood stage of 31.7 feet; and in January 2016 with a flood stage of 32.17 feet.

The History of Flooding in the Albany Area General Flood Information Flood maps, Elevation Certificates, references on flood protection, and other flood related information can be viewed at: • Planning and Development Services, 240 Pine Avenue, Suite 300 • http://www.albanyga.gov/ • https://maps.albanyga.gov/ • https://msc.fema.gov/portal/ search • The Central Library at 300 Pine Avenue has flood management and protection materials at the reference desk and materials that can be checked out. Computers are available at all libraries to access the websites listed.

All development in the flood plain REQUIRES A PERMIT, including construction, renovation, accessory structures, fill, excavation, grading, paving and storage of materials or equipment. Contact the Planning and Development Services before commencing any of the above activities.

There are several ways to protect a building and its contents from flood damage. Some of these actions may also reduce your flood insurance premium. Call Planning and Development Services and your insurance company

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 albanyherald.com

Mary Teter, Planning Manager for specific information.

• Install a backflow valve in sewer taps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.

• Elevate the HVAC units, ductwork, water heater, electrical panel and other utilities servicing the building above the base flood elevation.

• If your house has a crawl space, install proper floor vents in your foundation.

• Raise the house above the base flood elevation.

• If flooding is likely and time permits, move your valuable items up to a higher level. Place sandbags and plastic sheeting in front of doorways and other low entry points.

• All structures, most structural additions, and all substantial improvements to existing structures located in a flood hazard area must meet floodplain management ordinance requirements. If the cost of reconstruction, rehabilitation, additions, or other improvements equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s market value, then the building must meet the same floodplain management ordinance requirements as a new building.

• Substantially damaged buildings

must be brought up to the floodplain management ordinance requirements if the cost of repairs equals or exceeds 50% of the buildings value before it was damaged.

Homes in a flood hazard area have a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage. If you don’t have flood insurance talk to your insurance agent. Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. If flooding occurs: • Listen to local radio or TV or NOAA weather radio for information.

• If there is any possibility of flash floods evacuate to higher ground.

Do not wait for instructions to move.

• Have your electricity turned off by your power company or turn off all electrical circuits at the circuit box.

• Shut off the water service and gas valves in your home.

• Do not walk through flowing water.

• Stay away from power lines and electrical wires.

For additional Dougherty County flood information contact: Planning and Development Services: 229-438-3901 City Engineering: 229-883-6955 County Public Works: 229-430-6120

tter! and Li re a s tt u B e tt re a ig C

they are toxic

DID YOU KNOW ...

year.

S of cigarette butts each ment.

• Smokers discard BILLION directly into the environ d” sse “to are tts bu tte are cig of ee s and on str ts where • A large percentage buildings, in parking lot of de tsi ou te ula um ms and rivers.

• Cigarette butts acc rm drains into our strea sto r ou gh ou thr ed ort e, a plastic that is they can be transp made of cellulose acetat are t bu n, tto co e lik k • Cigarette filters loo environment. ar. 10,000 cigarette slow to degrade in the n 10,000 cigarettes a ye tha re mo ls ua eq y da a • A pack and a half volume, to five liters. g the deadliest of all butts are equivalent, in in its pure form, amon d, an ide tic ec ins l rfu • Nicotine is a powe filters that are tossed plants products. emicals left in cigarette ch ic tox the th wi ng alo • Tobacco residue, o our water supply. as butts, quickly leach int of litter on earth. the most common type are tts bu tte are Cig • our environment.

• Cigarette butts harm

TTS PROPERLY

CIGARETTE BU PLEASE DISPOSE OF

KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL | THE ALBANY HERALD | Sunday, January 6, 2019

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2019 Free Electronic Recycling Collection Days

O

ur growing dependence on electronic products both at home and in the workplace has given rise to a new environmental challenge: electronic waste. Research indicates that electronic waste is growing at three times the rate of other municipal waste.

Electronic equipment contains metals and other materials that can become hazardous to human health and the environment if they are not properly managed.

• Cadmium: The largest source of cadmium in municipal landfills is rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCd batteries, commonly found in laptop computers).

• Lead: Monitors and televisions contain a picture tube known as a cathode ray tube (CRT). The CRTs contain leaded glass, and are the largest source of lead in municipal landfills.

• Mercury: Electronic waste

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is a leading source of mercury in municipal landfills.

Additionally, discarded electronic equipment is a concern because electronics are made with valuable resources such as precious metals, engineered plastics, glass and other materials, all of which require energy to manufacture. When equipment is thrown away, these resources cannot be recovered and additional pollution will be generated to manufacture new products out of virgin materials.

Electronics account for 2 percent to 5 percent of landfill volume, but it contributes up to 70 percent of the toxins found in landfills.

A FREE e-recycling collection day will be held September 14, 2019 to promote the proper disposal of unwanted electronic equipment.

Rain or shine, the electronics recycling collection will take place in the parking lot behind the James H. Gray Sr. Civic Center at the corner of Front Street and Mercer Avenue in downtown Albany from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

There will be a $20 FEE for each television set at the September 14 event. The average TV set contains 4 pounds of lead, which must be removed and disposed of properly.

There will also be a $10 FEE for all computer CRTs. Items not accepted include vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, freezers, gas-powered equipment and all non-electronic equipment.

Business, industry, schools, hospitals and government offices can call (229) 430-5257 to schedule a pick-up of large quantities of electronics.

ELECTRONIC RECYCLING EVENT Items Accepted Desktops Laptops Servers Mainframes Network Hubs Network Switches Cell Phones Desktop Phones & Systems Keyboards/Mice Check Processing Gaming Consoles LCD Monitors

CD-ROMS Floppy Drives Circuit Boards Power Supplies Hard Drives UPS & UPS Batteries Ni-MH/Ni-CAD Batteries Lithium Batteries Blu-Ray Players Cable/Wire Gaming Controllers Toner/Inkjet Cartridges

Television Recycling

$20 Each

Printers Fax Machines Copiers Scanners Typewriters Modems Stereos VCR Radios DVD-Players CD-Players Dock Stations

CRT MONITOR RECYCLING

$10 Each

311 Non-Emergency Call Center Mary Petty, 311 Director

The 311 Call center was created for the public to have one central point of contact for all local government services and general information for the City of Albany, Dougherty County and Albany Utility departments.

Our Mission is to provide the public with this free service allowing quick, easy access to all City of Albany, Dougherty County, and Albany Utility government services and information while maintaining the highest level of customer service by dialing one easy number 311.

The 311 Call Center is proud to participate in assisting citizens in striving to make our community a great place to live, work and play.

The 311 Call center encourages all citizens or groups to join the Mayor’s Call to Service initiative, Neighborhood Watch Groups, report issues requiring city or county action, reporting criminal activity such as unsightly graffiti. Call 311 to find out what environmental events, education and programs will be offered for citizens to make a difference and encourage community pride.

The 311 service prides itself on maintaining the highest level of customer service. We are always

trying to let everyone in the community learn more about our services. So, if your organization/ community group would like to schedule a 311 speaker, please call 311.

Common 311 citizen calls include: • Where do I? • Report a Code Violation?

• Go to pay a ticket?

• Get an Albany Transit Schedule?

• Report a Pothole?

• Report a burned out street or traffic light?

• How Do I? • Obtain a birth certificate or marriage license?

• Request yard debris removal?

Call Center: Calls are answered by a live operators Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by dialing either 311 or 878-3111.

Website & New Mobile Application:

The 311 website at www.311answer. com is available 24/7 as well as our mobile application. If you would like assistance in navigating through the web portion, or downloading the mobile application albanyga311, please call 311 and we’ll give you a guided tour through our software.

STORM DRAIN ALERT

A

lbany’s storm drainage system is experiencing a major problem. The catch basins located throughout our city blocks are meant to capture water ONLY. When leaves and other debris are placed in the system, they clog up our only means of diverting rain water from our roadways.

Please assist by not blocking the drainage system with leaves or other debris and by not disposing of ANYTHING in the system. All materials collected in the drainage system return to OUR water system... untreated. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in a monetary penalty.

Sunday, January 6, 2019 | THE ALBANY HERALD | KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL

albanyherald.com

Each One Of Us Makes A Difference!

MATERIALS ACCEPTED

DO NOT CO-MINGLE MATERIALS

Aluminum

RECYCLE ALBANY MAGAZINES - GLOSSY MAGA- TOOLS, CELLULAR PHONES, ZINES AND CATALOGS ONLY. ETC. CARDBOARD - PLEASE BREAK ALUMINUM CANS - PLEASE DOWN BOXES. DO NOT MIX RINSE. DO NOT RECYCLE WITH CEREAL BOXES, CRACK- SCRAP METAL, PAINT CANS, ER BOXES, ETC. AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCT CANS PAPERBOARD - BOX PACK- OR DISPOSABLE ALUMINUM AGING THAT IS FOUND ON A PIE PLATES, PIE TINS OR ALUGROCERY STORE SHELF, SUCH MINUM FOIL. NO TIN OR STEEL AS A CEREAL BOX, A CAKE CANS. MIX BOX, A BEVERAGE PAPERNEWSPAPERS - ANY INSERT BOARD BOX, ETC. THAT COMES IN YOUR NEWSGLASS - PLEASE RINSE AND REPAPER IS RECYCLABLE WITH MOVE LIDS AND NECK RINGS. YOUR NEWSPAPER AND SO YOU NEED NOT REMOVE PAARE YOUR PHONE BOOKS. PER LABELS. PLEASE SEPARATE GREEN, BROWN, AND CLEAR DO NOT RECYCLE JUNK MAIL GLASS FOOD AND BEVER- OR PAPER PRODUCTS OTHER AGE CONTAINERS. DO NOT THAN NEWSPAPERS. PLEASE RECYCLE LIGHT BULBS, PLATE KEEP DRY. GLASS, AUTO GLASS, MIRRORS, PLASTIC - PLEASE RINSE CONCERAMICS, OR DISHES. TAINERS AND REMOVE THE MEREDYTH SITE ONLY - LIDS. ONLY CLEAR PLASTIC SHREDDED & NONSHREDDED BEVERAGE CONTAINERS MAY OFFICE PAPER. BE RECYCLED. DO NOT RECYNi-CD (RECHARGEABLE BAT- CLE PLASTIC WRAP, PLASTIC TERIES) - NI-CD’S ARE THE BAGS, STYROFOAM OR OTHER POWER SOURCE IN POWER KINDS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES. albanyherald.com

FREE RECYCLING DROP-OFF SITE LOCATIONS

2521 Meredyth Drive At Fire Station #6 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 11:30 AM & 12:30 - 5:30 PM & Saturday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM DOWNTOWN ALBANY

at the intersection of Front Street & Mercer Ave.

(Behind The James H. Gray, Sr. Civic Center) Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 8:30 - 11:30 AM & 12:30 - 5:30 PM & Saturday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 2106 HABERSHAM ROAD Electronics ONLY Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL | THE ALBANY HERALD | Sunday, January 6, 2019

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Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful: from Education to Application

Making A Difference A special environmental “Tip of the Hat”

The businesses listed below have joined environment hands to set an example for our business community. They have committed to RECYCLE in their workplace.

2018 Recycling in the Workplace Participants AB&T Advertising with Lisa Albany Dougherty County Voter Registration & Elections Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Albany Auto Service Albany Board of Realtors Albany Diagnostic Center Albany Hand Therapy Albany Herald Albany Spring Senior Apartments Albany State University West Campus Albany State University East Campus Alice Coachman Elementary School Ameris Bank AutoNation CDJR Albany Bishop Clean Care, Inc CGI Federal, Inc City of Albany Finance Dept.

Dougherty County Schools Administrative Office Dougherty County Human Resources Dept.

Dougherty County Board of Commissioners-Finance Dept.

Dougherty County Cooperative Extension Dougherty County Health Department Dougherty County Police Department Dougherty County Public Works Dougherty County Solid Waste/Landfill Dougherty County Tax Department Dougherty County Farm Bureau Dougherty State Court Faith Community Outreach Center Fast Copy and Blueprint Flint RiverKeepers Flint RiverQuarium Southern Rebar Hall, Booth, Smith International Studies Elementary Charter School

Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful Kirbo & Kirbo PC, Law Office Lake Park Elementary School Lamar Reese Magnet School of the Arts Lincoln Elementary Magnet School Live Oak Elementary School MAD lab Marine Corps Logistics Base Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School Mary Ligon’, etc. LLC MillerCoors Morningside Elementary School Northside Elementary School Nottingham Apartments Olins Sheet Metal, Inc. Procter & Gamble R & L Engineering, Inc. Radium Springs Elementary School Reeves Construction Company Robert H. Harvey Elementary School Sherwood Acres Elementary School Southwest Georgia Regional Airport Sowega Chlorinator Co. Inc. SRJ Architects, Inc. Technical Associates The Phoenix of Albany Thronateeska Heritage Center TTL, Inc. Turner Elementary School Watson, Spence LLP West Town Elementary School

Sunday, January 6, 2019 | THE ALBANY HERALD | KEEP ALBANY DOUGHERTY BEAUTIFUL

albanyherald.com