DeKalb County and Atlanta Regional Commission staff at the Jan. 25 ARC Green Community awards event. Photo provided to Decaturish

DeKalb County was recently acknowledged as a Green Community by the Atlanta Regional Commission.

In addition, DeKalb earned “recertification at the Silver level.”

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As of now, “DeKalb County is one of 20 local governments in metro Atlanta currently certified under the Atlanta Regional Commission Green Communities program that showcases the many ways that local governments can reduce their environmental footprint,” according to a recent press release.

Below is a list of the sustainability practices DeKalb County was recognized for:

– Collecting an average of 80,000 tons of yard debris annually from residents and turning it
into compost rather than sending it to the landfill. DeKalb County residents can pick up
compost at no cost from four locations in the county.

– Stocking county fleet with 143 propane powered vehicles, 152 compressed natural gas-powered
vehicles, 10 hybrid vehicles, and two electric cars. To fuel its CNG vehicles, the county
produces and refines methane gas at its Seminole Road Landfill, and makes it available at
two CNG fueling stations.

– Converting an underused multi-family apartment complex to greenspace and parkland.
Brookside Park now includes a community garden, a state-of-the-art playground and walking
paths.

– Acquiring 21 acres of land to form Briarlake Forest. In total, DeKalb County has added 746
acres of greenspace since 2009.

– Educating the public about federally endangered species at Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve,
and supporting the re-establishment of those species in the wild. The Preserve is home to the black-spored quillwort and pool sprite, two species on the federally endangered list.

For more information, check out the program’s website by visiting: https://atlantaregional.org/natural-resources/sustainability/greencommunities/.

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