What Is Sustainable Norcross?

Do you recycle, compost, xeriscape, use rain barrels? Would you like to learn how? Are you interested in organic and locally grown produce but cannot find it? Do you admire the fabulous tree canopy in Norcross? Ever wondered how to certify your yard as a Wildlife Habitat? Are you concerned about the quantity and quality of our water? Is it better to use paper or plastic bags at the grocery? What natural products are safe but effective? Ever considered sustainable alternatives for flooring, clothing and other products? Where can you discard old electronics?



Well, let’s learn together.



Starting a new organization can be a daunting task. Then an online training manual advised:



"Don’t wait - Get started without funding, expertise, or fear of adverse consequences.



Seek useful resources - Information on the web, in literature, in the community, in person, from experts.



Seek ways to scale up - Transform successful solutions into a movement of local significance.



Have fun projects – enjoy doing. Your efforts can result in important benefits, and you can have a good time while you’re at it!"




And that is exactly what a group of like minded citizens did. The organizational meeting was held June 1, 2008 and we've been busy ever since.



Learn more about us here on our blog or contact us now.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

What IS…


a group that:

has a Georgia Tech electrical engineer, a designer and charitable foundation board member, an environmental consultant, a retired EPA manager, and a Georgia Master Naturalist?

is only 2 1/4 years old?

is made up of volunteers appointed by their city’s elected leaders?

partners with others in the community to achieve common goals?

was nominated as Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Best Green Government for 2010?

has been instrumental in achieving Green Communities certification at the Silver Level by the Atlanta Regional Commission and is currently Going for the Gold?

and is being honored by The Civic League for Regional Atlanta with their Regional Excellence Award at their What’s Right With the Region celebration?

It is the Sustainable Norcross Commission, of course. This five member citizen panel advises the City of Norcross on environmental and sustainability topics. Their primary objective is the development of a measured sustainable city plan and regular communication with the city leadership. Goals are in areas ranging from water and energy conservation, transportation and air quality to green building and land use. Heavy emphasis is on education and volunteerism.

Although a customized sustainability plan created for the city is a long term objective, the group embraced the turnkey program of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) when it was first introduced in December 2008. This was only a month after the group was officially created by the city and only six months after the first public meeting to gauge interest in creating a group.

The program offered by the ARC includes a manual and other support to assist governments in the 10 county metro area in reducing their overall environmental impact. The governments in the program are leading the way to sustainable living.

And the folks advising the local government leaders are the hard working volunteers of the Sustainable Norcross Commission:
Chuck Cimarik
Kathy Nau
Heather Royston
Jim Scarbrough
Connie Weathers