Roger Harrison '01 holds recycled tire mulch at the new Ridge Road Elementary School in Sandersville, Georgia.

A few years ago, Roger Harrison ’01 thought that any green contribution he made didn’t matter. But, when he was assigned to negotiate a solid waste and recycling contract, he saw being green in a whole new light. 

“My education on how much difference one person makes on the impact of the earth astounded me,” Harrison said. “No longer do I see recycling . . . or saving the earth as a granola thing to do. I think it is the right thing to do.”

The University of Georgia Archway Professional was instrumental in acquiring the largest grant the organization has facilitated. The EPA awarded a $1.7 million grant to improve overall air quality by retro-fitting diesel engines in Washington County and Athens-Clarke County with high-tech filters that will reduce emissions and particles. In his role with Archway, Harrison focuses on addressing the economic development needs of Washington County.

"Our application was a unified statement to the EPA that we're serious about doing what it takes to improve our air quality starting at home,” Harrison said. “Their selection of our community as a recipient of these funds is a clear affirmation that the EPA approves of our efforts in Washington County."

One hundred and nine of the county’s vehicles will have filters installed, including 81 school buses and 28 utility vehicles. The filters clean harmful chemicals out of the exhaust from diesel engines, reducing the number of particles in the air by 60% and the amount of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon by 80%. The project is expected to reduce the number of particles in the air by half a ton every year.

In addition to improving air quality, Harrison helped begin “Recycle Sandersville!,” a grassroots effort to begin city-wide recycling in Sandersville, Ga. Harrison received an in-kind donation of $20,000 worth of recycling bins that the city will use in a pilot program to begin this October. Plus, he received an in-kind grant of $2500 from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to market the “Recycle Sandersville!” program.

Further, Harrison recommended that the new Ridge Road Elementary School in Sandersville, Ga. use recycled tire mulch instead of pine bark. The Washington County School District heeded Harrison’s request, spreading 88,000 pounds of the mulch across its 49-acre campus. The greener alternative conserves water and saves the school money from upkeep. Plus, the mulch kept nearly 10,000 tires from going into landfills.

“It is not my job to be green,” Harrison said. “I make green a part of my job as my duty as a human being.”

Community members involved with the Archway partnership were instrumental in the above green efforts. Their involvement made all of the above projects possible. Theo McDonald, Economic Development President, served as chairman of the Clean Air Task Force. Sidney Law, Washington County Extension Coordinator and agriculture agent for the University of Georgia, was instrumental in the Ridge Road Elementary School project. Susan Lewis, Community Organizer, was instrumental in the “Recycle Sandersville!" project.