Keep Troup Beautiful was honored at this year’s annual Keep America Beautiful national conference, distinguishing itself as an exemplary affiliate organization.

Taking second place in its category, the organization was honored for its outstanding community litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification programs.

The 55th annual conference, held in Washington, D.C., brought together award-winning affiliates from across the country in order to share best practices and celebrate the successes of the last 12 months.

The Keep America Beautiful Affiliate Awards are open to all Keep America Beautiful affiliates and include program activities during the 12-month period from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008. The honored affiliates encourage individuals to make simple daily choices that help the environment, and engage them in volunteer activities that improve their communities and the local environment.

“Across America, communities like Troup County are improving their neighborhoods and quality-of-life by engaging individuals to take greater responsibility for protecting the environment,” said Matthew McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. “We are privileged to honor and celebrate the dedicated work of our most exceptional affiliates in a national setting.”

Keep Troup Beautiful took second place in the 50,001 to 200,000 population category for its implementation of multiple community im-provement and beautification programs including:

n Great American Cleanup: Over 450 volunteers cleared three illegal dump sites, 50 miles of roads, 64 acres of parks or schoolyards and 31 acres of river and lake shorelines, collecting over 13 tons of scrap tires, litter and trash.

n 2007 U.S. Conference of Mayors Cans for Cash Challenge: Resulted in 250,321 collected cans.

n America Recycles Day: KTB partnered with a local high school to implement the first paper recycling project in the school district with more than a ton of paper processed.

n Georgia Arbor Day: KTB partnered with state officials, the state forestry commission and local schools to make the planting of ten trees on school campuses throughout the county possible.

n Bring One for the Chipper/ E-Waste Event: The annual waste reduction program recycled over 250 Christmas trees for fish habitat, and collected over 5 tons of electronics.

“We are truly honored that our hard work and dedication has been recognized at the national level,” said Doris Jefferson, executive director of Keep Troup Beautiful. “The citizens of Troup County have been instrumental in the success of our community improvement programs and, while we are pleased with our results, we are looking forward to achieving more next year.”