The Athens County Commissioners joined an alliance of Southeastern Ohio counties Thursday in an effort to have a greater positive impact on
the environment.
Athens County joined 12 other counties in Keep Southeast Ohio Beautiful, a regional affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit organization that works to promote sustainability and the environment.
The initiative, administered by the Wayne National Forest, held a quarterly meeting Tuesday to introduce new collaborative partners, like the commissioners.
“We are one of the largest regional affiliates,” said Gary Chancey, public affairs officer from Wayne National Forest. “What we’re doing is very public. We want to be transparent.”
Commissioner Chris Chmiel said he wanted to join the affiliate to collaborate more and focus on recycling and trash clean up.
“We have a lot of money for cleaning up litter after it’s a problem,” Chmiel said. “We seem to have money for fixing the problem after it’s a problem.”
Chmiel added that recycling must improve in the Athens community and schools, as well as in the schools in other counties.
“A lot of people think Athens is groovy and environmentally friendly,” he said. “But my son is a wrestler. I see kids at wrestling meets who don’t recycle – and that’s in the schools.”
However, Dan Palmer, district director for the Lawrence-Scioto County Solid Waste Management District and another member of the affiliate, said he has seen much involvement from the Ohio University Southeastern Branch.
“I’m just impressed that our schools are getting so involved,” Palmer said.
Chancey said when dealing with recycling and litter, he wants to do more to increase enforcement, which Chmiel supported.
“We need to find a creative solution for people (to recycle more),” Chmiel said. “Why can’t we come up with a way to
engage people?”
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