That’s a wrap to the South Baltimore Brewery District Cleanups this year! Check out the data we collected on plastic bags and plastic bottles to help shape and show need for policies like extended producer responsibility for packaging, beverage deposit return systems, and plastic bag bans and fees.

The impacts on trash and litter have been felt by Marylanders across the state. Litter cleanups, giving generously, and sharing our mission have helped drive landmark victories. Litter does not belong in our communities, public spaces, and waterways. Together we are creating a Trash Free Maryland this Giving Tuesday with policy solutions to prevent trash and plastic pollution.

Trash Free Maryland lead the charge for the first in the nation Maryland statewide ban on expanded polystyrene foam food containers and lead the nation in passing a ban in microbeads in personal care products. Now we set our sights on packaging waste with Extended Producer Responsibility!

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!

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).

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!

Our journey has just begun! We have secured many litter and trash policy victories including: banning expanded polystyrene, banning plastic micro-beads, and passing extended producer responsibility for packaging statewide. With the projected tripling of plastic pollution and the threat of micro-plastics to human health, our work is far more over.

This Giving Tuesday, we would like to share a little more about our Trash Free Team! We are all united by a deep love of nature and a strong focus on Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (EPR), including plastic!

Happy Holidays from Trash Free Maryland, here is a recap of this year, what we are grateful for, and our trash free resolutions!