Winners Named in Gwinnett County's 2013 Great American Cleanup

Results from Gwinnett County's "Great American Cleanup" are in, and several organizations are being recognized for making an especially big impact.

Those winners are part of several dozen groups that pledged to make a bigger impact this year. Each group designed its own project, and were awarded a $500 cash prize.

All total, more than 16,000 people in Gwinnett County participated in 186 projects and events. Volunteers collected more than 1.9 million pounds of material for recycling and cleared more than 36,000 pounds of litter and debris.

The challenge winners include:

Tucker Woods Homeowner’s Association (Tucker): The team received the the Green-up Your Neighborhood award. Volunteers cleaned five miles of roadway, collected more than 200 pounds of trash, and hosted a "Cleanup Party" for the 25 neighborhood volunteers.

Lynnfield Park Subdivision Homeowner's Association (Lawrenceville): The group won the Stash the Trash award.They removed more than 300 pounds of litter and recyclables from neighborhood streets.

Duluth Matters (Duluth): Is the 2013 winner of the Beautify Your Space award. Volunteers spruced up an alley in downtown Duluth by clearing  trash, resurfacing the walkway, and repainting walls.

United Peachtree Corners Civic Association (Peachtree Corners): The group received the Put Litter in Place award. They removed nearly 2,000 pounds of litter and debris from six locations.

LAN Systems (Norcross): This local business received the Recycle Now award. The group hosted an Earth Day e-recycling event and collected 4,526 pounds of used electronics.

Sycamore National Junior Beta Club (Sugar Hill): The team was received the Grow Green title. Students made craft items out of recycled goods, and then sold them to raise money to beautify school grounds.

Mother Nature's Minions Lanier High School Environmental Club (Buford): The group won the Reuse It award. Students collected more than 500 books, and then donated them to Gwinnett Children's Shelter and to Zindagitrust.org for the children of Pakistan.