Keep America Beautiful Regional Director Mallory Coffey presents the city’s KAB certification to Mayor Keith A. James, who is joined by city employees. (L-R: Brian Gellin, Amy Marks, Mallory Coffey, Mayor Keith James, Josh McDermott, Penni Redford)

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (March 2, 2022) -- The City of West Palm Beach has become an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful (KAB) through the establishment of the Keep West Palm Beach Beautiful (KWPBB) program. Established in 1953, KAB encourages people to improve and beautify their community. A national network of more than 700 cities, KAB will provide expertise, programs and resources to the city to help end littering, improve recycling, and beautify our community.

KWPBB aims to educate and inform the community on best practices for trash disposal, recycling and community beautification to enhance the city’s image, make our city safer, and improve the quality of life for residents and businesses. The program will be administered by the city’s Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Public Utilities Office of Sustainability.

In collaboration with the community, the city initiated the affiliation with KAB and the KWPBB program after the successful implementation of the Operation Clean Streets initiative to combat illegal dumping and clean neighborhoods. Since the initiative’s inception in 2019, nine people were arrested for illegal dumping, and more than 8 tons of illegally-dumped material was removed from neighborhood streets.

“We are pleased to introduce the Keep West Palm Beach Beautiful program thanks to our partnership with Keep America Beautiful,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “This partnership will help unlock our beautiful city’s true potential. Our city’s continued beautification will help to attract economic development, make our city safer, and improve quality of life for all who live and work here.”

“Thank you so much for putting in this effort and for making this a priority for your community,” said Mallory Coffee, Keep America Beautiful regional director. “Having clean, green and beautiful places in which to live work and play-- it’s the only way your community should be! Congratulations on making this achievement.”