ATL and partners remove trash along river’s banks near the Airport

ATLANTA — Because the Flint River is ours, we take care of her.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s (ATL) demonstrable commitment to sustainability and active environmental stewardship was evident on Oct. 18 when ATL teamed up with like-minded organizations for its Flint River Clean-Up initiative.

The Department of Aviation’s 50 participants were joined by representatives from AATC, Delta Air Lines, Kale Info Systems, A3 (Atlanta Aviation Association), ATL Fire and Rescue, AC Sweepers, DC Public Schools, GSA, and Flint Riverkeepers. Crews collected 600 pounds of trash from a segment of the Flint River downstream of the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.

The Flint River, one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the country, originates just north of the Airport. Starting from a small spring in East Point, the stream flows directly under the Airport before joining the Chattahoochee River and emptying into the Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. The Flint River is approximately 349 miles long, and almost 220 miles of it flows without obstructions. Water flowing in the Flint River is essential for cities, farmers, and industries.