In a recent bout of recognition, St. Johns County's "Get Hooked" anti-litter campaign clinched top awards at a national conference, showcasing the effectiveness of local governmental initiatives in environmental stewardship. The ceremony, part of the 3CMA (City-County Communications & Marketing Association) Annual Conference held from Sept. 4-6 in Arlington, Texas, saw the St. Johns' program emerge as a beacon of inspiration among more than 1,100 submissions from across the United States in various categories, as reported by the St. Johns County's announcement.
Specifically, "Get Hooked" was awarded the first-place Savvy Award within the Go Green Communication Program Efforts Division, and it didn't halt there, it also secured the Diamond Award in the Communications & Marketing Processes category – an accolade reserved for the crème de la crème of marketing achievements, according to an announcement by the St. Johns County. Conceived as a spirited rejoinder to the disquieting collection of litter – to the tune of more than 49 tons by Road & Bridge Litter Crews in 2022 – the campaign was launched at the onset of 2024, with the purposeful aim to school residents, lift consciousness, and charter a course towards reducing litter in the community.
"We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated partners and volunteers whose efforts have made the Get Hooked campaign a resounding success," Public Works Outreach Coordinator Matthew Denny enthused, as heralded by St. Johns County’s official release. The efforts bear quantifiable fruit: a significant dip from over 32 tons of litter collected in the first half of 2023 to a mere 16 tons during the same timeframe in 2024. Captain Reducio, the county's Solid Waste mascot, has been the charismatic face of these efforts, engaging citizens through a stir of public appearances, broadcasting engagements, and community events.
The initiative has also fostered a sense of communal responsibility with the adoption of the Adopt-A-Road program by the locals, where volunteers have diligently contributed nearly 1,000 hours and amassed over 10,000 pounds of litter according to the county's communication, community events have roused nearly 900 participants sole to collect almost 4,000 pounds of garbage from beaches and roadways, a testament to the proverbial rolling up of sleeves by concerned citizens. Residents interested in keeping abreast of the green campaign's strides and future engagements are nudged towards subscribing to The Curbside Times Monthly Newsletter and the Recycle Coach, tools designed to keep the environmentally conscious denizen in the loop.
