Cheers to Clean Water was an amazing day of community and action! We connect cleanups to policies to create lasting change. This year we focused on plastic bags (linking to bans in Maryland), and plastic bottles (linking to Extended Producer Responsibility and Beverage Deposit Return System). Thank you to our partners and volunteers you all make a huge difference!

After an extensive two-year search, Trash Free Maryland is thrilled to announce Kelly Doordan as our new Executive Director. With a background in biology, a Master’s in Environmental Science, and a Law Degree from Indiana University, Kelly brings a wealth of expertise to the role. Her dedication to community-driven policy, evidenced through her leadership has led to significant reductions in trash and litter. We're excited for Kelly to lead us to a Trash Free Maryland.

How the average American perceives the waste crisis may surprise you. Dr. Michaela Barnett led us through her research on recycling bias and source reduction neglect. Do you know the three Rs? At which stage of the product life cycle do consumers feel most empowered to enact change? Discover why Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is the key to shifting the burden from consumers to producers, driving real, lasting solutions to our waste problems.

63 new, familiar, and furry faces joined us for a litter cleanup in the South Baltimore Brewery District. A trend is forming in the data you are collecting which will be instrumental in passing plastic bag bans and extended producer responsibility for packaging. See you at Cheers to Clean Water September 21st!

Join us for a Learning Session with Dr. Michaela Barnett, a PhD in Behavioral Science for Sustainability and owner of KnoxFill, a refill store in Knoxville, TN, as she presents on her research on recycling bias and reduction neglect.

Maryland’s 2024 Legislative Session: Trash & Litter Recap! A energetic and synergistic push for a “bottle bill.” The reasons our focus remains on Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging with implementation underway.

The latest data from the 2024 Dumpster Dive reaffirms the effectiveness of policy in our mission to tackle litter. We're seeing a steady decline in the presence of plastic bags and polystyrene pieces in Professor Trash Wheel's dumpster after bans went into effect!

Over 50 volunteers made a difference at the South Baltimore Brewery District Cleanup, collecting valuable data on plastic bags and plastic bottles using the Real Time Recall Method! The Data will be instrumental in passing Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Bring Your Own Bag Bills (plastic bag bans).

This Black History Month we are celebrating the Associated Black Charities. Join for a screening of “John Lewis: Good Trouble” on Wednesday, February 28th, 2024.

2024 Maryland General Assembly is underway! So what’s on the less trash and less litter agenda? Beverage Deposit Return System, Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, and “Bring Your Own Bag” programs.

What does a trash free Maryland mean to you? One thing is for certain: it’s one free of trash and litter! This Giving Tuesday your donation goes directly to the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging.

With the expected tripling of plastic production by the year 2060 and local governments in Maryland facing shortages effecting trash removal services, your support is needed more than ever. Maryland has a unique position when it comes to trash and litter pollution policies and we have the solution. Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging!