Massachusetts Beautification Bulletin | June 2022
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We're excited to be hosting our 4th annual Massachusetts Clean Community Awards in person this fall on October 20 in Waltham. Please scroll down for details on this event and other updates from our network of 43 local KMB chapters.
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Plastic waste continues to pile up
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Take the Pledge And Join the Plastic Free July Movement!
Plastic Free July® is an annual month-long global movement that was started in Western Australia by the Plastic Free Foundation in 2011. Its founders believe small changes can add up to make a big difference—and we agree!
Each July, individuals, families, school groups, and workplaces around the world take the challenge and pledge to reduce their consumption of single-use plastic products or go completely plastic-free. Read more...
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Reserve Your Tickets for Our Awards Gala at Waltham's Lyman Estate on Oct. 20.
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Mark Your Calendar for the Massachusetts Clean Community Awards Gala
Please mark your calendar for Thursday, October 20 from 6-9 p.m. For the first time since 2019, we’ll be gathering in person to recognize volunteers, KMB chapter leaders, legislators, businesses, and others for their exceptional environmental protection and community improvement efforts. This highly anticipated celebration will feature inspiring stories, delicious food, an open bar, and entertainment!
Nominations for this year's Massachusetts Clean Community Awards are now open and will be accepted through September 23. Awards will be presented in the following categories:
- KMB Environmental Legislator of the Year
- KMB Business Partner of the Year
- KMB Chapter Leader(s) of the Year
- KMB Rookie Chapter of the Year
- KMB Municipal Partner of the Year
- KMB Litter Buster of the Year
- KMB Youth Volunteer of the Year
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Apply for a $250 or $500 Grant
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Plant Something Bee-autiful Grant Applications Due by July 31
There is a lot of buzz about our Plant Something Bee-eautiful grants, so act soon if you plan to apply!
This program helps beautify Massachusetts communities by supporting the creation of pollinator-friendly public gardens. A total of $3,000 is budgeted and will be awarded in amounts of $250 or $500 grants to local KMB chapters, garden clubs, and other organizations across the state.
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Cleaning Up University Park in Worcester
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KMB Chapter Spotlight:
Cleaning up in Worcester & Salem
KMB teamed up with The Worcester Green Corps and local liquor store distributors and retailers for a cleanup in the area surrounding University Park on June 4. This cleanup was just one of the dozens that The Worcester Green Corps has hosted over the past year.
Since its launch in May 2021, this local KMB chapter has removed more than 11,000 pounds of litter—5.5 tons—from city streets! The Worcester Green Corps was created in partnership with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, the city of Worcester, United Way of Central Massachusetts, and the Worcester Community Action Council.
In July, KMB will be partnering with Keep Salem Beautiful and local liquor store retailers to host the Salem Summer Sweep on July 17.
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There is nothing fashionable about
textile waste!
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Zero-Waste Zone: Textile Waste is Unfashionable
While many people enjoy wearing new clothes, our desire to keep up with the latest fashions has a hugely negative environmental impact. Consider these facts about textiles:
- Clothing and textile products amount to 6% of all material going into U.S. landfills and incinerators—including 230,000 tons annually in Massachusetts alone
- Textile reuse and recycling has the second-highest potential positive environmental impact on reducing greenhouse gases compared to other recyclables.
- 95% of all used clothing, footwear, and other textile products can be reused or recycled, yet only 15% of reusable textiles are recovered from the waste stream.
To reduce this textile waste, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has mandated that, effective November 1, 2022, Massachusetts residents and businesses will no longer be allowed to throw clothing and textiles in their trash. Instead, residents will be required to bag up their unwanted clothing and other textiles and bring them to a textile drop-off site or have them collected curbside.
Textiles are defined in MassDEP’s waste ban as “clothing, footwear, bedding, towels, curtains, fabric, and similar products, except for textiles contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil, or hazardous substances.”
About 45% of donated textiles are reused and sold as secondhand apparel, either in the U.S. or abroad. Another 30% is converted into industrial wiping cloths and 20% is remanufactured into carpet padding, insulation, or sound-proofing material. The final 5% is thrown away because it is wet or mildewed, or otherwise unsuitable for reuse.
Many municipal transfer stations host textile drop-off boxes and some even offer free curbside pickup. If you need help finding a textile donation location, visit your municipality’s website or visit MassDEP’s Beyond the Bin directory (enter textiles into the search field). RecyclingWorksMA also offers a Find-a-Recycler tool to help Massachusetts businesses locate textile recyclers.
To further reduce textile waste, rather than buying new clothes, consider visiting local or online secondhand clothing stores first!
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We Welcome Meg Morris to Our Board of Directors!
Meg has been involved in waste, recycling, and litter abatement for more than 30 years in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She co-founded the Cape Cod Anti-Litter Coalition, a group dedicated to focusing on education that changes attitudes and behaviors and leads to a culture where littering is considered socially unacceptable. She also serves the Town of Brewster as its Chair of the Recycling Commission.
We also bid a fond farewell to two Board members. Steve Changaris served for several years and provided his expertise as a long-time employee of the National Waste & Recycling Association. Sarah Burgess, who co-founded the nonprofit Just1Bag2020, relocated back to her native home in England. We wish Steve and Sarah the best and thank them for their contributions!
Join Our Board!
We are currently seeking talented people to serve on our Board of Directors. In particular, we are seeking people who are passionate about cleaning up and beautifying our communities and who have experience in finance, fundraising, communications, public relations, social media, law, or other specialties.
If you are interested in serving on our Board of Directors, please contact us.
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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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