In 2018, Ohio EPA awarded the City of Hilliard a Litter Prevention Grant to be used toward becoming a Keep America Beautiful (KAB) affiliate. After undergoing training and conducting a city-wide litter index, the City became an official KAB affiliate, known as Keep Hilliard Clean and Green, in August 2018.
About Keep America Beautiful
Hilliard strives to be on the leading edge of community sustainability. Being involved in the litter prevention, recycling and waste reduction, and beautification and greening programs of KAB has been identified as an important step in making that goal a reality. By being a KAB affiliate, Hilliard hopes to enhance its engagement of businesses and residents within the community. KAB resources will allow Hilliard to better see what initiatives are working around the country and how they can be adapted to the unique needs of our community. Hilliard hopes to become a model community for our region and beyond when it comes to litter prevention, recycling, and environmental sustainability. Our partnership with KAB gives our community access to training, resources, grant opportunities, and other programs to help end littering, improve recycling, and beautify our community.
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Read about Keep Hilliard Clean and Green’s goals!
End Littering
A city-wide litter index was conducted in 2018. Fifty-seven miles were driven and 45 different streets were visually surveyed by a team of five City employees. Great news! Results showed visible litter was minimal on most streets, particularly in residential areas. Keep Hilliard Clean and Green continue to partner with the City and community groups to target problem areas and perform litter cleanups throughout the year.
Improve Recycling
It is our hope that with the guidance and expertise of the KAB program, Hilliard will increase its recycling diversion rate through education and other initiatives. Keep Hilliard Clean and Green will reach out to both residents and the business community to develop methods to increase recycling. Although the City already has residential recycling services, there is no City-coordinated recycling program available for Hilliard businesses. Several projects are being considered to help increase the availability of recycling for Hilliard businesses.
Beautify our Community
With the large number of visitors coming to Hilliard, there is a need for litter prevention and beautification. The City of Hilliard’s Adopt-A-Park Program is designed for businesses, groups (including youth), or individuals to assist with basic year-round mulching, weeding, small-scale gardening, painting, and other activities. Keep Hilliard Clean and Green will work with the City to continue this successful program with the goal of getting every park space adopted throughout the City. Additionally, we will work with the Hilliard Area Garden Club, Hilliard Shade Tree Commission, and Hilliard Environmental Sustainability Commission to beautify all areas of the City.
With more than 60 years of experience building frameworks and a national network of information from which to draw resources and information, the KAB program is a wonderful resource for Hilliard in developing strategies that will work for our unique community.
Keep Hilliard Clean and Green would like to give a special thank you to the Ohio EPA for their financial contribution toward achieving our affiliate status!