Massachusetts Beautification Bulletin | February 2024
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If you're a fellow litter loather, every day can feel like Groundhog Day. That's because, despite our own best efforts to clean up litter, it has a way of returning, just as the crocuses will start blooming again in March. To make meaningful progress, our efforts to galvanize volunteers across Massachusetts need funding, and leadership from our state's legislative leaders. Scroll down to learn what you can to do make real change and improvement possible here in Massachusetts.
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Let's Urge State Leaders to Take Action on Litter
Don’t Mess With Texas. Nobody Trashes Tennessee. Clean Rhodes. Virginia is For Lovers, Not Litter. Keep Delaware Litter Free.
The slogans above are all part of state-wide litter campaigns that have the full support of each state’s governor and other senior legislators and cabinet officials. Yet, here in Massachusetts, our state has no organized approach to litter abatement.
For the past 10 years, Keep Massachusetts Beautiful has been working to persuade those in positions of power to launch a comprehensive statewide anti-litter education and enforcement program, with our help.
Help us get the attention of key stakeholders by sending a “Leaders Against Litter Letter.” Simply scroll down on our Great Massachusetts Cleanup page to download our letter template, copy and paste the text, edit as you see fit, and mail (or email) it to your state representative and senator. You can also email Governor Healey or mail a hard-copy version to her or the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) at:
- Gov. Maura Healey, State House, 24 Beacon Street, Governor’s Office Room 280, Boston, MA 02133
- Monica Tibbits-Nutt, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 4160, Boston, MA 02116
- Sign our Litter-Free Massachusetts petition on Change.org
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Reserve Your Massachusetts Clean Community Awards Tickets Today!
We’re excited to welcome WCVB Chief Meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon back as the emcee for the Clean Community Awards on March 21. Tickets are on sale now!
Join us for a fun evening of celebration featuring inspiring stories, delicious food, open bar, and entertainment. Nominations for the Massachusetts Clean Community Awards are being accepted through February 9, 2024.
Reserve your tickets or submit an award nomination today.
Support Our Cause: We’re seeking business sponsors to help offset the expense of this event. Please contact us today or visit our website for details on sponsorship opportunities.
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Join Our Litter-Free to the Finish Boston Marathon Cleanup
Runners and fans from around the world will be coming to the Boston area for the 2024 Boston Marathon on April 15. Help Massachusetts put its best foot forward by participating in a pre-race cleanup!
Volunteers will be cleaning up the litter that has accumulated along the entire marathon route over the winter. Volunteers are welcome to join our teams in Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston during the first two weeks of April. Pre-registration is required.
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Quotable: “For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver."
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Start Planning Now for a Kick-Butt Community Cleanup this Spring
Getting an early start with your spring cleanup planning is key to your success! We have the resources and tools to help your community succeed, including:
- Video guide featuring tips for organizing a cleanup
- Guide to organizing a cleanup event
- Guide to publicizing a cleanup event
- KMB-recommended vendors for cleanup supplies (including pricing discounts)
- Register your cleanup on the KMB events calendar
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Thank You To Our Newest Litter Cleanup Crew Members
Over the past few weeks, we shipped 8 additional Litter Cleanup Kits to the following volunteers:
- Kerri in Salem
- Lindsay in Newburyport
- Sara in Brewster
- Stephan in Wrentham
- Julie in Wrentham
- Peter in West Bridgewater
- Michelle in Somerville
- Naomi in Hopkinton
Thank you for taking individual action to make your communities cleaner places to live, work, and play. If you’d like to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of making a difference in your community, join the Massachusetts Litter Cleanup Crew today.
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From The KMB Blog:20 Ways To Reduce Food Waste in Your Home
The average American family of four throws away roughly $1,500 worth of food every year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And 60% of that unwanted food ends up in landfills—that’s more than 130 billion pounds. While this is a bigger problem than any individual consumer can tackle, there are simple changes we can all make to reduce food waste.
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Apply Now for a 2024 Next-Gen Environmental Leader Scholarship
Applications for our annual $2,500 Next-Gen Environmental Leader Scholarship are now being accepted. This scholarship supports a high school senior who has demonstrated a commitment to environmental protection, environmental justice, or community service to improve the environmental health or sustainability of their community.
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Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Events:
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Enviro-Newsworthy Developments...
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Thank you for reading our newsletter and please contact me if I can answer any questions you may have about our programs, launching a local KMB chapter in your community, or sponsorship opportunities.
Sincerely,
Neil Rhein, Founder & Executive Director
Keep Massachusetts Beautiful
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