Cities put hazardous waste in its place
Live Thrive, a local nonprofit with the goal to divert materials from metro Atlanta’s water systems and landfills, recently took a big step in the right direction in DeKalb.
In August, Live Thrive teamed up with the cities of Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Doraville to host the nonprofit’s most success hazardous waste and recycling event in the organization’s history at Plaza Fiesta.
The results were substantial. According to officials with Brookhaven, the event served 308 cars carrying paint, Styrofoam, old electronics and other household materials that are considered hard to dispose of properly. In all, 41,226 pounds of hazardous waste were diverted from creeks, the sewer system, and landfills. The largest share was old paint and chemicals at 27,783 pounds, followed by electronics at 10,218 pounds. The collection also included 502 pounds of Styrofoam, 284 pounds of plastic film, and 1,022 pounds of household goods, according to officials.
The success of the event shows that DeKalb County residents are invested in keeping trash and harmful materials out of our shared environment. Each of Live Thrive’s collection drives continue to increase as far as participants and disposals.
Keeping our communities clean is a responsibility shared by all. It’s a good sign to see the measurable results – in literal thousands of pounds of waste – being put in its place.
