Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce "Going Green" committee challenged cities in Cherokee County to encourage residents to recycle as part of the third annual "Mayor's Recycling Challenge."

For the third consecutive year, the City of Waleska collected the most recycling per capita, with 138.4 pounds per resident, as determined based on 2013 U.S. Census population estimates. Additional per capita totals included City of Ball Ground, 73.5 pounds/resident; City of Woodstock, 13.9 pounds/resident; City of Nelson, 8.2 pounds/resident; City of Canton, 6.6 pounds/resident; and City of Holly Springs, 6.3 pounds/resident.

The City of Woodstock collected the most recycling, totaling 374,322 pounds; City of Canton, 158,622 pounds; Ball Ground, 109,000 pounds; Waleska, 96,760 pounds; Holly Springs, 61,660 pounds; and Nelson, 10,820 pounds. The combined total collected by all the cities was 811,184 pounds a 3-percent increase over last year.

The winners were announced during the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce's "Good Morning Cherokee" breakfast meeting in September. North Metro Waste and Waste Management partnered with the Chamber on this event.