Exciting news to share from the Green Life organizers!
From their media release:
The Classic Center, in association with the Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division, will host Athens’ fifth annual Green Life Expo on Saturday, Feb. 9 in The Classic Center’s Grand Hall from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

The Green Life Expo will feature exhibitors with a variety of products and services for businesses and families that will show them how to live, work and play “green.” Admission is free.

“We’re very excited to be bringing to Athens the Green Life Expo for the fifth consecutive year,” said Philip Verrastro, Assistant Executive Director for The Classic Center. “This year’s Expo will focus on alternative transportation, and we’ve also continued to feature activities for the whole family. We appreciate the generous support of the Athens community and our Green Life sponsors, especially the UGA Office of Sustainability, who we have worked especially close with this year.”

Any proceeds from the event will be earmarked towards funding an electric car charging station at The Classic Center.

Children can take part in activities and learn how to play “green” at the Green Life Expo with the giant walk-in earth balloon returning to this year’s event.

There will be several “make and take” activities for families, such as making their own green mustaches and then getting their picture taken at the Green Life Expo photo booth. Families also will have the opportunity to make valentine maracas, tennis ball container terrariums, vulture puppets and other items with recycled materials.

At 11 a.m., the EcoFocus Film Festival will be showing a series of short films for kids. Children also will be able to meet the various mascots of Athens-Clarke County, including Binny the Recycling Bin and Veto the Trashy Vulture.

 "The ACC Recycling Division is excited about the fifth year of the Green Life Expo and would like to invite all families to come recycle, learn and have some fun!" said Suki Janssen, Waste Reduction Administrator with the ACC Recycling Division.

The expo will feature several hands-on educational sessions such as composting with worms and making birdhouses from recycled and reclaimed materials. BikeAthens will be holding a session on bike helmets. Children and adults are encouraged to bring their helmets for a fitting.

The ACC Recycling Division will be collecting the following recyclables at the Expo. This is a residential collection only (no commercial material will be accepted).

  • Batteries: alkaline and rechargeable (no car batteries) 
  • Bulbs: compact and regular fluorescent tubes (no incandescent) 
  • Electronics: (including TVs) 
  • Styrofoam: (#6 plastic) blocks and other coolers (no cups, trays or peanuts) 
  • Old Holiday Cards: for reuse 
  • Used Cooking Grease 
  • Broken Christmas Tree Lights
  • Old Media:  CD's, VHS, DVD's, and more
  • Car Fluids:  Used motor oil and anti-freeze (NO gasoline)
  • Tires: Bike Tires and Tubes 

Junk South also will be collecting the following items to benefit the Athens Area Homeless Shelter:

  • Gently used Mattresses, box springs, bed frames
  • Gently used Furniture: tables/chairs, couches, lamps, dressers
  • Gently used kitchen equipment: particularly pots and pans, microwaves, plates & silverware
  • Working washers & dryers

The Green Life Expo is made possible by many environmentally conscious, community-minded sponsors including The Classic Center, the Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division, Leon Farmer and Company, Georgia Power, The Fresh Market, Flagpole, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, Ink.MD.com, the EcoFocus Film Festival, UGA Office of Sustainability and Magic 102.1 FM.


For more information, visit www.GreenLifeAthens.com.