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KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AND LITTER CONTROL KICK OFF GAC WITH A BEACH SWEEP

Great American Cleanup of SC Officially Begins Its 3-Month Campaign

Columbia, SC -- The Great American Cleanup of South Carolina is officially underway as the SC Litter Control Association and Keep South Carolina Beautiful representatives commemorate the annual event.  Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) representative Sue Smith was on hand to officiate the ceremony.  After a brief press conference at the Avista Resort in North Myrtle Beach, conference attendees ran out to the beach with trash bags in tow to clean up beach litter.

The Great American Cleanup is the nation's largest cleanup program sponsored annually by KAB.  Over 1,000 communities around the country participate in cleanups and beautification programs.  Last year, over 28,000 South Carolinians joined in the fun removing over 5million pounds of trash and recyclables from our streets, neighborhoods and natural resources. 

Though the official GAC dates are March 1 - May 31, PalmettoPride, the state's anti-litter and beautification organization, launched the campaign at the 2^nd annual South Carolina Litter Control Association (SCLCA) and Keep South Carolina Beautiful (KSCB) joint conference at the Avista Resort.

“This was a natural fit for us to kick off this cleanup campaign here,” said Sarah Robinson, KSCB Coordinator.  “Keep America Beautiful affiliates and enforcement work closely together to cleanup and improve our communities.  Having all these representatives here at one time creates a positive and energetic atmosphere that this campaign calls for.  Plus, Sue Smith is here from the national office, so the timing is perfect.”

Sue Smith is the Director of Education for KAB and is here training local affiliate directors and board members.  There are 23 affiliates in South Carolina. 

PalmettoPride coordinates the GACSC as the parent organization to KSCB.  All participants are given trash bags, safety vests and safety information.  

PalmettoPride is a statewide, 501c3 dedicated to eradication litter in South Carolina and promoting beautification efforts in our communities.  We will accomplish this using a four-pronged approach of education, enforcement, awareness and pickup.  Our goal is to change behavior that causes litter. 

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