Keep Mandeville Beautiful has been awarded a $15,000 grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful to reduce litter in the Mandeville area. The grant will complete an effort started 18 months ago by KMB to furnish Mandeville with a sufficient amount of attractive, weather resistant trash and ash receptacles at all public areas.

To date, 12 receptacles have been purchased from previous grant monies and installed at the lakefront and the city park. This grant will allow KMB to purchase 23 additional receptacles. The Mandeville Public Works Department will install all the receptacles by the end of spring.

“KLB received $1 million in grant requests this year, by far our highest application rate to date. Clearly the need in our local communities is there,” said Leigh Harris, executive director for KLB. “Our budget allowed us to award only about 25 percent of this amount, so the process is very competitive. “Research has proven that when made available, people will use trash and ash receptacles instead of littering. Without a doubt, the overall appearance of Mandeville will benefit from this grant.”

Surrounded by Lake Pontchartrain and Fontainebleau State Park, there is always something fun to do outdoors. Mandeville’s main outdoor recreational focal points are the lakefront of Lake Pontchartrain; the Trailhead, which is the host site to the farmer’s market and outdoor concerts; the Trace, a 31-mile bike path that runs through the city; Sunset Point, a fishing pier; a public boat launch and two public parks. These areas attract thousands of individuals and families from areas inside and outside of Mandeville’s city limits making Mandeville a wonderful place to enjoy outdoor activities.

A certain amount of trash is generated from people boating, fishing, picnicking, attending outdoor concerts and the farmer’s market.

To reduce and control litter, it is important to have an adequate number of durable trash and ash receptacles available for the public’s use.

“Mandeville is a community that prides itself on its beautiful surroundings and plentiful outdoor activities. To help keep it beautiful KMB felt it was necessary to provide an adequate amount of attractive receptacles strategically placed to encourage use and to reduce litter,” said Susan Russell, director of Keep Mandeville Beautiful.

Over the past few years, KMB has tried to tackle litter from many different vantage points. KMB created and implemented the Adopt-A-Spot program and now has 23 partners. These partners conducted 55 cleanups last year. KMB also is tackling the cigarette butt litter problem with the distribution of pocket ashtrays at 10 local businesses that sell cigarettes. In addition, there are “Cigarettes are Litter” signs at busy intersections reminding people not to litter, and 15 ash receptacles were purchased and installed in public areas. In addition, KMB tightened the local litter laws requiring businesses to have trash and ash receptacles in front of their businesses. The organization was also instrumental in creating a Code Enforcement position for the city. This position is responsible for enforcing the Code of Ordinances, including the litter laws.

Involving and educating today’s youth is another focus for the organization. Currently, the “Litter is Scary” litter monster banner contest is under way. Banners can be seen along the Causeway approaches. An anti-litter contest for elementary schools is also under way.

“Clearly, KMB has been very active in its efforts to reduce litter in Mandeville. I see the purchase and installation of these receptacles as just one more positive thing for the citizens of Mandeville,” said Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price.