Over the past month, we have published stories about litter pick-ups, recycling events and organizations like Keep Troup Beautiful and the City of LaGrange winning awards. Throughout the year, the two have hosted either street and community clean ups, recycling drives and more to make the community a better, cleaner place. 

KTB and the city’s program, titled Leaving LaGrange Better Than We Found It (LBTWFI), strives to clean up the community and change the way people view litter. 

Due to these two environmentalist efforts, the strong presence in the community and the work they do throughout the year both received statewide recognition for its efforts. 

We applaud both groups for their hard work and efforts to engage the Troup and LaGrange community in taking greater responsibility for their surrounding environments. 

Keep Troup Beautiful was awarded the Governor’s Circle Award by the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, and the city received first place for Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation’s Litter Prevention Award.

Each month LBTWFI hosts a monthly clean up in different areas of the community that it partners with a business for. To qualify and win its award, the city had to compile a detailed submission that included the background of the program, how it was executed and the overall success of it. 

KTB sent off approximately the same information as well for its award. Not only does KTB hosts major events to help the beautification of Troup County but also goes around the county on an annual basis creating a litter index that collects data from the same street or area to see improvements on litter. 

These groups go above and beyond in helping the community move forward. As time goes on, the hope is that members of the community might think twice before throwing litter on the road or sidewalk. 

Next time you may think about littering, remember the hard work these groups and the community is doing to make our area a better place.