Established by the Board of Commissioners in 1995, the Fulton County Citizens Commission on the Environment (FCCCE) advises on development projects and collaborates with community organizations and citizens to promote and encourage environmentally sound practices.
since 2003, the commission has awarded “Environmental Awards” every year to recognize exemplary environmental efforts and best practices that serve to inspire others. This year, the awards ceremony on Oct. 16 will honor eight distinguished recipients with individual proclamations, followed by a commemorative tree planting on the subsequent Saturday to celebrate their accomplishments.
The 2024 honorees are:
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and Nexus Circular by Chairman Pitts
The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, Atlanta’s primary provider of pro bono legal services, has contributed significantly to environmental health by providing over 400 free indoor environmental tests since 2020, aiming to improve living conditions in low-income neighborhoods.
Nexus Circular has pioneered a process for recycling complex plastics, diverting millions of pounds from landfills and supplying global companies with materials for creating sustainable products.
Johns Creek City Government Green Team by Commissioner Bridget Thorne – District 1
Certified as a Bronze Level Green Community by the Atlanta Regional Commission, the City of Johns Creek Green Team integrates sustainability into new developments and enhances green connectivity throughout the city, aligning with state-wide educational and environmental initiatives.
Roswell Rotary by Commissioner Bob Ellis – District 2
Roswell Rotary supports environmental sustainability through its After Hours Club, which repurposes plastic grocery bags to aid produce transport from the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Unity Garden to the North Fulton Community Charities local food pantry. The group also actively participates in Georgia’s annual “Sweep the Hooch” river cleanup and other city park beautification projects.
Livable Buckhead by Commissioner Dana Barrett – District 3
Livable Buckhead is focused on eight key areas: culture of sustainability, energy, water, waste, health and wellness, mobility, greenspace, arts and culture. By actively engaging community and business stakeholders, their planning drives significant improvements in sustainability practices and sets a model for other communities to follow.
Their programs improve the environment by reducing energy and water usage, increasing recycling rates, expanding greenspaces, and promoting the use of alternative transportation. The Buckhead Recycles program alone has diverted over 1000 tons of recyclable material from landfills. The organization added 34 acres of greenspace to Buckhead and provided last-mile connectivity to MARTA with the Buc Shuttle.
Doug Widener of the Piedmont Park Conservancy and Bill Eisenhauer of the Fulton Citizens Commission on the Environment. (Photo provided by Lynn McIntyre.)
Atlanta Beltline Inc. Project by Commissioner Natalie Hall – District 4
The Piedmont Park Conservancy nominated the Atlanta Beltline Inc. project for its innovative storm water management and erosion control along the newly built Northeast Trail through the park to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. This project, in collaboration with plantings of native plants by Trees Atlanta, uses sustainable design and landscaping to increase the area’s drainage capacity while providing greater accessibility and resilience.
Community Health Worker Garden Project at Camp Truitt by Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington, Jr. – District 5
The Community Garden Initiative, managed by Community Health Worker (CHW) Danina Battle, formed a program that educates people on how to grow and cultivate their own sustainable food sources, providing them with access to healthy food options for themselves and the community. They leveraged resources from Fulton County’s Camp Truitt Garden, the Fulton County Extension Offices, and the South Fulton Farmers Association to support this train-the-trainer pilot program. Although Food deserts still exist in Metro Atlanta, this initiative helps to bridge the gap and increase access to more nutritional food options.
Community Health Aligning Revitalization Resilience and Sustainability Group by Vice Chair Khadijah Abdur-Rahman – District 6
The CHARRS group champions environmental and health equity through workshops, policy advocacy, and urban agriculture, creating greener spaces and improving community health outcomes.
These honorees exemplify the commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability in Fulton County, advancing both community well-being and ecological health. Let’s all celebrate these folks!
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