Mission
To promote environmental sustainability and educate the community to take action every day to reduce litter from our open spaces & waterways, improve recycling efforts, and keep our City Beautiful.
KCGB was established in July 2020 and through this program, the City conducts a variety of events including downtown community cleanups, beautification events, educational opportunities, invasive plant removals, and more. Learn about upcoming events and how to get involved!
Programs and Upcoming Events
Climate in Crisis Screening
Join The CLEO Institute, NBC6, and Keep Coral Gables Beautiful as we close out Earth Month with an exclusive Earth Month documentary film screening followed by a panel discussion at the Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave.
Presented by NBC6, Climate in Crisis offers a retrospective on the major climate stories of 2023 and a glimpse into the promising climate change solutions on the horizon. First Alert meteorologist, Steven MacLaughlin, covers topics such as record heat, sea level rise, climate gentrification, stronger hurricanes, rapidly intensifying storms, and managed retreats in South Florida. Discover the various strategies being implemented by local governments and residents to mitigate global warming, as well as the array of climate change solutions being pursued in South Florida.
For ticket pricing and information, please click here.
Keep Coral Gables Beautiful will host the resident-exclusive bi-annual Recycling Drive-Thru Event on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to noon at the parking lot behind City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. Walk-ins and bicyclists are welcome.
Click here for more information on accepted/prohibited materials and more.
The Commercial Beautification Awards serve to recognize those businesses that have gone above and beyond in the beautification and maintenance of their storefronts and surrounding areas. To learn more about business and commercial property owners’ maintenance responsibilities, click here.
Nominations for the 2024 Commercial Beautification Awards will be accepted beginning March 1 through April 30.
KCGB Commercial Beautification Awards Nomination Criteria [PDF]Keep Coral Gables Beautiful has launched a new year-round Battery Recycling Pilot Program. This program aligns with the city’s goal of reducing waste that ends up in landfills and building a more resilient and sustainable City Beautiful. Since its launch in July 2021, over 2,981 pounds of batteries have been collected and recycled. Learn more about accepted batteries.
Battery recycling bins have been placed in the following locations:
- Development Services Center: 427 Biltmore Way
- City Hall: 405 Biltmore Way
- Police and Fire Headquarters: 2151 Salzedo St.
- War Memorial Youth Center: 405 University Drive
- Public Works Department: 2800 SW 72nd Ave.
- Adult Activity Center: 2 Andalusia Ave.
Keep Coral Gables Beautiful is offering litter kits for individuals and small groups looking to host recurring solo cleanups in Coral Gables. Each litter kit has everything that you need to hold your own cleanup event. The litter kit includes a litter picker, a pair of reusable gloves, a safety vest, and one reusable mesh bag. Litter Kits are made possible through Keep America Beautiful and the 2024 Great American Cleanup grant program. Kit recipients will be asked to complete a post-cleanup report for data collection.
Volunteer hours are provided upon request.
If you are interested in a litter kit, please fill out a litter kit request form. Availability is limited.
Keep Coral Gables Beautiful Information
Keep Coral Gables Beautiful is a local affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful and Keep Florida Beautiful organizations.
Newsletter
Want to stay notified of upcoming Keep Coral Gables Beautiful events? Join our newsletter.
Business/Group Cleanups
Whether you are a business looking for team-building opportunities or a group of friends wanting to give back to the community, we will help you coordinate a cleanup event. Complete and submit the KCGB Business/Group Event Request Form to get started.
Co-Executive Directors: Solanch Lopez and Matthew Anderson
Phone: 305-569-1835 | 305-460-5008
Staff
Diego J Cancel - Sustainability and Resiliency Supervisor
Phone: 305-460-5547
Nicole Gautney - Sustainability Coordinator
Phone: 305-619-4258
EMAIL: KCGB@coralgables.com
ADDRESS: 204 Minorca Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33134
More Initiatives and Past Events
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Reverse Vending Machine Rewards Incentive Program
Thank you to the 715 people who participated in our Reverse Vending Machine Pilot Program. With your help, we were able to collect 18,258 containers in one year; that equals 1,035 pounds of beverage containers recycled! This program was made possible through the Florida Beverage Association Community Grant and Cycle.
We are grateful for all six of our local Coral Gables business partners who rewarded the top ten highest recyclers for each bi-monthly contest period. Coral Gables Art Cinema, Amigo Grill, ManKind Grooming & Services, Well Groomed Gentleman, Just Salad and Mint Wellness.
Click here to learn more about recycling in Coral Gables and check in often to learn about our new recycling programs coming in 2024.
Air Potato Patrol
Air potatoes in South Florida are an invasive and noxious weed. To remove, pull them out from the bulb and detach from the vine. Place them in a plastic bag as they can continue to grow if left on the ground. How to spot and remove air potatoes.
Commissioner Anderson's Removal Campaign
In an effort to build awareness, Commissioner Anderson is giving out a $10 dollar Books & Books gift card for anyone that brings in one pound of air potatoes. You can bring them to City Hall to her office or at a city event. Events the Air Potato Patrol will be attending will be posted here.
Downtown Community Cleanup – End of Summer Edition 2023
Downtown Community Cleanup – End of Summer Edition 2023
Keep Coral Gables Beautiful held it's End of Summer Downtown Community Cleanup on Aug. 31. Fifty-seven volunteers collected 369 pounds of litter from the downtown area, setting a new record for litter collected and our biggest turn-out to date. The Most Pounds Collected Contest provided several team winners with Books & Books gift cards, Venetian Pool tickets and a VIP Clutch Burger Card. A special thank you to the Chamber of Commerce, Clutch Burger, and Baptist Health South Florida.
Pinewood Cemetery Invasive Plant Removal 2023
On Friday, Aug. 4, 40 volunteers helped remove more than 7,500 pounds of invasive oyster plants from the Pinewood Cemetery. Volunteers did a fantastic job completing this collection in under two hours. Thank you to the Pinewood Cemetery Advisory Board and the Greenspace Management team for making this event possible! Also, a special thank you to Ranger Ready Repellent for their donation of 500 3.4-ounce insect repellent sprays that were given to everyone who attended the event.
Plogging at Matheson 2023
Keep Coral Gables Beautiful wants to thank everyone who participated in the Great American Cleanup season kickoff event, "Plogging at Matheson," on April 1, 2023. Participants collected a total of 56 pounds of waste, all while enjoying the spring weather and helping the environment.
Dual North America - Global Giving Week
Dual North America - Global Giving Week
Companies are encouraged to participate in organizing community cleanups in partnership with Keep Coral Gables Beautiful. Recently, Dual North America took to Old Cutler Road as part of their Global Giving Week. The Dual team collected 50 pounds of litter in one hour helping to keep our City clean and beautiful.
Environmental Film Screening & Panel Discussion
Environmental Film Screening & Panel Discussion
In celebration of Earth Month in Coral Gables, KCGB hosted a screening of “The Biggest Little Farm” on April 5 at the Coral Gables Art Cinema. This documentary is a breathtaking chronicle of one family’s dream to harvest in harmony with nature.
Following the movie, a panel discussion on sustainability was held as part of the national Science on Screen initiative. The panel was moderated by Commissioner Rhonda Anderson with panelist Matthew Anderson – City of Coral Gables Resiliency and Sustainability Manager, Teddy Lhoutellier – University of Miami Sustainability Director, and Irela Bague – Miami Dade County Chief Bay Officer.
The screening of this film was sponsored by Commissioner Rhonda Anderson and coordinated through Keep Coral Gables Beautiful and the Coral Gables Sustainability Advisory Board.
*An initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.
