LaGrange Recognized for Successful Anti-Litter Campaign

City and Former Council Member Honored for Environmental Efforts

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:49am

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The City of LaGrange, Georgia has been awarded the Clean Community Champion Award by the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation for its successful 'Leaving LaGrange Better Than We Found It' anti-litter campaign. Former City Council member Nathan Gaskin will also be recognized with the Steve Reynolds Public Servant of the Year Award for his consistent participation in the initiative.

Why it matters

The awards highlight LaGrange's commitment to environmental beautification and community engagement, demonstrating how a coordinated, city-wide effort can make a meaningful impact on reducing litter and waste. The recognition also underscores the important role that local government and civic leaders can play in promoting sustainability and community pride.

The details

In April 2018, the City of LaGrange shut down for half a day, resulting in hundreds of employees picking up litter throughout the city. Due to the success of this initial campaign, LaGrange has turned it into a regular monthly effort, with community partners helping to clean up different neighborhoods. The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation cited the city's educational workshops, promotional campaigns, and other preventative efforts as key factors in selecting LaGrange for the Clean Community Champion Award.

  • The initial 'Leaving LaGrange Better Than We Found It' campaign took place in April 2018.
  • LaGrange now holds monthly litter cleanup events in different neighborhoods.
  • The Clean Community Champion Award and Steve Reynolds Public Servant of the Year Award will be presented on May 5, 2026 at the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation's annual affiliate conference in Savannah.

The players

City of LaGrange

The local government of LaGrange, Georgia that organized and executed the successful anti-litter campaign.

Nathan Gaskin

A former District 2 City Council member in LaGrange who was a consistent participant in the city's anti-litter initiatives, earning him the Steve Reynolds Public Servant of the Year Award.

Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF)

A non-profit organization that promotes environmental stewardship and sustainability across the state of Georgia, and is presenting the awards to LaGrange and Nathan Gaskin.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to announce this year's award recipients and spotlight the incredible work happening in communities across our state. Their dedication is helping to shape a cleaner, greener future for Georgia.”

— Natalie Johnston-Russell, Executive Director of KGBF

What’s next

The Clean Community Champion Award and Steve Reynolds Public Servant of the Year Award will be presented to the City of LaGrange and Nathan Gaskin, respectively, at the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation's annual affiliate conference on May 5, 2026 in Savannah.

The takeaway

LaGrange's successful anti-litter campaign demonstrates how a coordinated, community-wide effort can make a meaningful impact on reducing waste and promoting environmental stewardship. The recognition from the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation underscores the important role that local governments and civic leaders can play in driving sustainability initiatives and instilling a sense of community pride.