Press Release: Norcross To Grow a Little Greener September 26

Norcross, Ga. – September 14, 2015 – Well-known for its lush canopy of trees, the City of Norcross is not merely dedicated to celebrating its community’s natural splendor – it’s also committed to preserving it. Earlier this year, the city marked its 11th year as a Tree City USA community through an on-going relationship with the Arbor Day Foundation and its fifth year as a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Green Communities program. Recent measures on behalf of the city and its Sustainable Norcross Commission include the addition of a charging station at City Hall to make the city electric vehicle-ready and the installation of more bike racks at the city’s gathering spaces for the enjoyment of its residents. Not limited to Historic Norcross alone, the Norcross Police Department also recently purchased an electric vehicle – which has resulted in a net savings of over $800 on fuel cost in the first six months of ownership alone. On Saturday, September 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the City of Norcross invites its neighbors to join in the effort to become a more sustainable community by taking part in the Mega Recycle and Clean-Up Event in Historic Norcross.

Although springtime is the season typically tied to Spring Cleaning, the City of Norcross declares Fall the time to clean out those cabinets, pantries, basements, garages, attics and closets. On the heels of a very successful event earlier this year, the city’s next Mega Recycle & Clean-Up Event will feature zones set up throughout Historic Norcross. Four separate stations will include opportunities to drop off canned goods for the 2015 “CAN DO” for Hunger Campaign, electronics for recycling, documents for shredding and unwanted items for discard/recycling including bulky items such as old appliances, furniture and any other accumulated trash. Please note: Solvent or hazardous material (such as batteries, paint, large car parts, motor, tires, oil, antifreeze, concrete, household chemicals and similar items) will not be permitted for disposal at this event.

“To supplement curbside residential recycling and repurposing of yard waste into mulch, the semiannual Mega Recycling Day is a time when we can take electronics, and other items to be recycled,” said Connie Weathers, Founder of Sustainable Norcross, Inc. a nonprofit environmental advisory and action group. “In addition, we can have our personal papers shredded with confidence before they are made into new paper products. We can also drop off bulky items for proper disposal. We even can donate nonperishable food items that are crowding our kitchen shelves and know they are going to those in need. Think before you throw. Take advantage of these opportunities to make recycling a routine in your household.”

To learn more about the Mega Recycle and Clean-up Event and other future happenings in the City of Norcross, interested parties are encouraged to visit www.aplacetoimagine.com. Aspiring environmental stewards who have great ideas of ways Norcross can grow even greener are invited to share their thoughts with the Sustainable Norcross Commission by e-mailing info@sustainablenorcross.net.

ABOUT THE CITY OF NORCROSS: Incorporated in 1870, the City of Norcross has been very busy securing a solid standing as both an eco-conscious community and world-class art district in the nearly century and a half since. Voted Gwinnett County’s “Best Arts & Cultural Scene” by Gwinnett Magazine, Norcross has become well-known for its unconventional public arts projects. In addition to earning both Gold and Silver Level awards as a “Green Community” from the Atlanta Regional Commission, Norcross has been recognized as a “Best Green Government” by Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and “Tree City USA” by The Arbor Day Foundation. The Sustainable Norcross Commission has earned regional applause for its efforts to spearhead the City’s local pro-environment practices. The city’s famed tree canopy, 11 parks and more than 31 acres of beautifully maintained public green space serve as popular gathering spaces for residents and visitors alike. A jam-packed calendar of events and eclectic collection of shops and restaurants serve to keep the historic downtown area bustling year-round. Creative souls from all walks of life are encouraged to “come unwind” and enjoy the positive energy that earns Norcross its reputation as “a place to imagine.”