City of Brownwood employees from the sanitation and landfill departments were honored during Tuesday’s city council meeting.  Mayor Stephen Haynes formally recognized the departments and presented a plaque for first place in the 2013 Governments Awards category awarded to these departments from Keep Texas Beautiful.

Mayor Stephen Haynes thanked sanitation and landfill employees who were present for their hard work and dedication.

“As elected officials, we all hear about our city’s services.  Honest to goodness over the years, I have had dozens of compliments and one complaint that was unfounded,” said Mayor Haynes.  “You guys do a fine job, you make us look good and we appreciate it.”

The Keep Texas Beautiful 2013 Governments Awards honor those who protect the Texas environment and support the organization’s mission to make Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. The Government Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Texas environment that have been made by the City of Brownwood’s Sanitation and Landfill Departments

Each year, Keep Texas Beautiful acknowledges deserving individuals, businesses, community groups, civic organizations, media, government entities and law enforcement officials for their commitment to an array of environmental issues, including litter prevention and community beautification, volunteerism, illegal dumping enforcement and education.

The City of Brownwood, with a population of 19,288, owns and operates its own landfill and sanitation pick-up.  There are thirty-one employees, 12 working within the landfill, and 19 in sanitation to run and maintain garbage collection within Brownwood. Seven surrounding counties, San Saba, McCulloch, Coleman, Eastland, Mason, Mills, and Comanche, also use Brownwood’s landfill.  The landfill has continued to receive a compliance rating of High from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This past year alone over 62,000 tons of solid wastes were collected at the landfill.  The city codes for Brownwood require only garbage collection from approximately 7,500 customers.  The Departments have continually strived to increase recycling and decrease illegal dumping and litter. Award winners were recognized at KTB’s 46th Annual Conference on June 20, 2013 in the San Antonio.

Keep Brownwood Beautiful is an affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful, a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement nonprofit which strives to educate and engage Texans to take responsibility for improving their community environment. KTB and its more than 360 affiliates work with government, businesses, civic groups, and volunteers to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to make Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation.  For more information on programs and events, call 1-800-CLEAN-TX or visit www.ktb.org.

Pictured, Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes presents the award to Tim Airheart, Solid Waste Services Manager, along with sanitation and landfill employees.