EIGHTH ANNUAL STATE CONFERENCE

A NOTEWORTHY SUCCESS

Keep Louisiana Beautiful would like to thank the presenters, exhibitors, organizers and, most of all, the attendees who helped make our 8th annual state conference one of our best. Our panel discussions and speakers covered an amazing array of topics, and we had excellent audience input.Congratulations to the recipients of the inaugural Keep Louisiana Beautiful awards. We appreciated our very special guests, former Governor Mike and Alice Foster, joining us for the presentation of the Alice Foster Award to Anne Warren Hise of Baton Rouge for her outstanding individual efforts over the years on KLB’s behalf.

Matt McKenna, CEO of Keep America Beautiful, introduced former first lady Alice Foster who made a personal appearance to present the conference's top honor to Ann Warren Hise. Pictured with Matt McKenna is former Governor Mike and Allice Foster.

KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL NAMES
WINNERS OF 2010 AWARDS

BATON ROUGE, La. – Keep Louisiana Beautiful named winners of its  inaugural statewide awards during the group’s eighth annual convention held Aug. 18-20 in Baton Rouge, La. Matt McKenna, CEO of Keep America Beautiful, introduced former first lady Alice Foster who made a personal appearance to hand out the convention’s top honor, the Alice Foster Award.

The awards recognize companies, organizations and individuals for outstanding contributions to KLB’s mission to make Louisiana communities cleaner, safer and stronger competitors for business investment. The recipients represented a range of groups from local community volunteers to schools and large companies:

·Anne Warren Hise of Baton Rouge – Alice Foster Award for Hise’s championing of the LSU lakes area and her long-standing advocacy on behalf of KLB for improving Louisiana’s environment.

·Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co. – Corporate Award for its new $180 million plant built with LEED certification.

·Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful – Outstanding KLB Affiliate for its education, recycling and cleanup efforts.

·Keep Slidell Beautiful – Most Innovative Program for Green Team Schools, a friendly competition between 14 area schools that has increased participation in litter awareness and cleanup efforts.

·Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School in Lake Charles – Youth Leadership Award for its school-wide participation in the international “Earth Hour” program, involvement with the LSU Coastal Roots Program and Junior Green Team.

“This was the awards’ inaugural year, but we were truly overwhelmed with the innovation shown by everyone who applied,” said Leigh Harris, executive director of KLB. “It’s inspiring to see so many residents across the state taking the initiative to improve their communities in very creative ways.”

CONFERENCE SPECIAL GUESTS
WILLIAM JONES & JESSE DEEMER

Keep Louisiana Beautiful arranged for special guests William Jones and Jesse Deemer to attend its eighth annual conference luncheon on August 19. For the past 15 years, Misters Deemer and Jones volunteered their time picking up litter in their neighborhood. In honor of their dedication and commitment to the city, Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden proclaimed the day in their honor. See below to read more about their story.

Click here for the Baton Rouge Advocate article

Click here for the WAFB-TV article & video

STUDY ESTIMATES LOUISIANA TAXPAYERS SPEND $40 MILLION ON LITTER REMOVAL COSTS

BATON ROUGE, La. – State and local government agencies in Louisiana spend an estimated $40 million a year cleaning up litter, according to a study conducted for Keep Louisiana Beautiful.

 The study surveyed officials throughout the state regarding how much they spend on litter control. The study concludes that governments at the state, parish and municipal levels spent an estimated $39,957,773 removing litter last year.  

“This is the first effort we know of in Louisiana to quantify the direct cost of litter removal,” said Leigh Harris, KLB executive director. “The findings show that litter is a very costly problem, yet it’s entirely avoidable.” 

The study found, for example, that on average, one third of the cost of roadside mowing is litter pickup before and after crews cut grass. Because they recognize the negative impact that litter can have on a community, government leaders use a range of tactics to keep their areas free of trash. 

Lawrence “Buster” McKenzie, president Applied Technology Research of Baton Rouge, which conducted the study for KLB, said the study measures litter’s direct economic impact. Indirect costs, though difficult to quantify, make the full economic impact of litter much higher. 

Litter lowers property values and contributes to the loss of new job-producing industry and business. It harms pets and damages wildlife habitats. Litter also affects public safety, ranging from fires caused by discarded cigarettes to research suggesting that heavily littered neighborhoods are more likely to be targeted for crime and vandalism. 

KLB encourages everyone to take a stand against litter. Discuss the issue with friends and family members and consider helping with community cleanup efforts. 

“We believe the ability to demonstrate how much we pay for litter is an important step in addressing our litter problem,” said KLB Chairwoman Debbie Serra of Lake Charles. “Awareness hopefully will motivate potential litterers to discard waste properly.” 

Click here to view an executive summary of the study conducted for KLB.  Please contact Leigh Harris at lharris@keeplouisianabeautiful.org for a copy of the entire study.

KLB, the fastest growing state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, is a volunteer organization on the frontlines of litter prevention. Our mission is a vital part of economic development and preventing blight, which often begins with litter accumulation. Since it began in 2003, KLB’S community grants have helped make Louisiana communities cleaner, safer and stronger competitors for business investment.

TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE HIGH COST OF LITTER

Discuss the issue with friends and family members and let your area lawmakers know of your concern. Cleanups and beautification projects are constantly taking place across the state with our affiliates and partners. Make a difference in your community and volunteer for an event. Click here to find your local Keep Louisiana Beautiful affiliate.

KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL NEEDS YOUR HELP TO FIGHT LITTER

Keep Louisiana Beautiful, affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization dedicated to litter reduction through education, enforcement and cleanups. Below are a few of the many ways you can get involved.

Report Litterbugs  

The Department of Environmental Quality maintains a toll-free number to report litter and illegal dumping. 

1-888-LIT-R-BUG  (1-888-548-7284)

Pitch In

Cleanups and beautification projects are taking place across the state with our affiliates and partners. Sign up here to volunteer and make a difference in your community.

Join the Movement

You are our most valuable asset. Join us in the fight against litter by becoming a member of Keep Louisiana Beautiful. Your contribution will be utilized in efforts to assist in enhancing KLB’s three-pronged approach to tackling the litter problem:

• Education
• Enforcement
• Clean-up

Check back soon for more membership info.