Keep Hall Beautiful

A great morning at UNG Gainesville’s Community Engagement Fair sharing upcoming volunteer opportunities with students and faculty! Interested in joining an upcoming community clean up or school garden work day? Email our Education and Outreach Coordinator, Amanda, at [email protected]

🚬 Most cigarette filters are made of plastic… and they're the most littered item in America.

The good news? Our 2026 National Litter Study found that cigarette butt litter decreased by 62% between 2020 and 2025.

That's meaningful progress, and a testament to the impact of education, prevention, and community action through initiatives like Keep America Beautiful's Cigarette Litter Prevention & Recycling Program (CLPR), which has helped communities reduce cigarette litter by up to 50%.

But the work isn't over. More than 3.8 billion cigarette butts still remain littered across the US at any given time, where they can break down into microplastics and release harmful chemicals into our environment.

📖 Download the 2026 National Litter Study to explore the latest findings and see where we're making progress - and where more work remains. kab.org/litter-study

Teachers! Get recognized for your commitment to environmental education and gain awesome benefits from Keep Hall Beautiful. Use the QR code to see more about the program and register by October 1, 2026.

This fall, we are excited to launch the Keep Hall Beautiful Green School Initiative, a countywide effort designed to increase students’ environmental literacy through engaging classroom programming and meaningful support for educators.

Teaching today's students about the value of our environment is important and meaningful work. Keep Hall Beautiful is committed to supporting educators and schools as they implement new programs, facilitate lessons, and work to share valuable information about the future of our natural resources.

Through participating, all teachers and schools in Hall County can access quality resources, in-class programs, as well as recognition and celebration of the amazing things implemented in their classrooms. The QR code will take your straight to the Green School Initiative page. Registration closes on October 1!

Send any inquiries to Amanda, our Education & Outreach Coordinator at [email protected]

Time for new back-to-school supplies and clothes? Check out GRC's tips and resources to help you shop sustainably this school year, recycle your old school supplies, and donate your kid's clothing. You'll discover resources for finding the perfect recycled polyester backpack and school supplies made with recycled content including water bottles made with 100% recycled aluminum as well as a list of places to donate gently used school supplies and backpacks. ♻️🎒

Ready to do something about plastic pollution? Join the Plastic Free July movement! Individuals and groups can pledge to refuse to use one type of plastic for the month of July. It’s a great way to reevaluate habits and be intentional about choices this summer. Swipe for more tips!

Reduce, reuse, recycle ♻️

Don’t have curbside recycling pick up? Hall County manages 12 compactor sites located conveniently around the county where residents can dispose of bagged trash and recycling (paper, plastic, metal, glass, clothing, and motor oil) in the appropriate containers. Compactor sites are open every weekday (M-F) except major holidays from 7:30a-4p. They make it so easy! Residents can also bring the above items plus small electronics and cooking grease to the Hall County Recycling Center in Gainesville.

Amazing things happening at Hall County Animal Shelter!

HALL CO. ANIMAL SHELTER MAINTAINS NO-KILL STATUS FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS

The Hall County Animal Shelter maintained its no-kill shelter status for the third consecutive year, saving at least 90% of dogs and cats that entered its care in 2025.

“In 2022, the Hall County Animal Shelter underwent an assessment by Best Friends Animal Society to help us improve operations,” Director of Hall County Animal Services Trey Garcia said. “And today, we’re proud to say that, thanks to the recommendations made by Best Friends and the incredible support of our community, we have saved the lives of more than 90% of Hall County pets that have entered our shelter system.”

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading national nonprofit organization whose mission is to “bring about a time where there are No More Homeless Pets” by helping shelters in America achieve and maintain a no-kill status through community programs and partnerships.

Some of the recommendations implemented at the Hall County Animal Shelter include ramping up community outreach, providing more foster and adoption opportunities, improving its community cat program and launching Urgent Adoption Notices as a final push to save more animals while maintaining a healthy shelter capacity.

“Our operations have improved significantly over the last three years. Our staff, volunteers and pets are thriving more now than ever, and we are committed to continuing to move forward to improve and save the lives of more Hall County pets,” Garcia said.

Maintaining a no-kill shelter status is not a one-time achievement and requires ongoing support from the community. Every adoption creates space for another animal in need, while every foster family provides temporary homes that reduce shelter overcrowding. Volunteers, rescue organizations, donations and responsible pet ownership all play an essential role in helping the shelter continue saving lives year after year.

To read the full press release, visit www.hallcounty.org.