ZERO-WASTE... that's the goal, America.

from: http://www.desotoexplorer.com/posts/home/2011/sep/13/team-travels-across-country-picking-up-r/
Posted by Laura Herring September 13, 2011 at 8:45 a.m.

For FULL EVENT DETAILS, scroll down...

Team travels across country picking up, recycling trash

...So far, they’ve collected more than 125,000 pounds of trash. But, the group’s mission isn’t just about picking up the country’s litter. Chen said they want to spread a message of zero waste.

As they move across the country, the team has discovered that much of what they collect can’t be recycle because the nearby communities don’t have the facilities to accept the different kinds of plastics.

“I would say that 20 percent of the things that are picked up are actually recyclable. When you get to a bigger city, you are able to recycle a lot more. You try to do what you can. But the system isn’t working in our favor,” Chen said.

Chen and his group are still looking for volunteers for the Midwest Litter Fest, a Sept. 24 event which will have teams helping pick up trash on a 45-mile route from Johnson County to Lawrence. It’s one event that Chen hopes will inspire others to keep their roadways clean and reduce their consumption.

“We want to get people out there to see trash with us, to see what is on the side of the road. Once they see it, maybe they will get hooked and maybe make a commitment to reducing the plastic in their life,” Chen said.

Details of events:

Pick Up America along with the Blue River Watershed Association and Cans for the Community is hosting the Midwest Litter Fest on Sept. 24. The event will tackle a 45-mile stretch of road from Roeland Park to Lawrence.

The organizers are looking for 20 to 25 teams of between four and 10 people to help collect litter along a two-mile section of the proposed route. Volunteers will meet a 8 a.m. at Shelter No. 12 in Shawnee Mission Park for breakfast and a safety briefing. Teams will help pick-up litter from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and return back to the shelter for a victory photo.

All participants can receive a T-shirt. To register or find out more information go to http://brwa.net

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: 
http://www.desotoexplorer.com/posts/home/2011/sep/13/team-travels-across-country-picking-up-r/
Posted by Laura Herring September 13, 2011 at 8:45 a.m.


SEE ALSO: 
https://www.facebook.com/pickupamerica
and
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177349588997272

MIDWEST LITTER FEST 2011

Time	Saturday, September 24 · 8:00am - 1:00pm
Location	7900 Renner Rd., Shawnee, KS
Created By	Pick Up America
More Info	Grab a team of friends and save the date! Midwest Litter Fest: A 45 Mile Trash-Grabbing Event from Johnson County to Lawrence. On September 24 we will come together: -To celebrate the arrival of Pick Up America - the nation's first coast-to-coast roadside litter cleanup - in Kansas City and start off their 450 mile clean-up across Kansas. They will clean their 1,500 mile of road here along their way to encourage a transition toward zero waste. http://pickupamerica.org/ -To make waves with 350.org's Moving Planet day of action - a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis. With this clean-up we aim to walk our talk and show that community stewardship and zero-waste as essential components of solving climate change. http://www.moving-planet.org/ -To raise money for non-profits walking the walk everyday to pick-up litter, encourage zero-waste and make Kansas a better place to live. The benefactors are: Pick Up America - http://pickupamerica.org/ Blue River Watershed Association - http://www.brwa.net/ Cans for the Community - http://www.cansforthecommunity.org/ Who Should Participate: This is a family-friendly event. Children over 11 are welcome, although one parent or guardian needs to be present for every three volunteers aged 11-15. We are looking for teams of 4-10 to sign up to clean 2-3 mile sections of our 45 miles route. Teams may consist of a few friends, a soccer team, a sorority, a family, a non-profit group, etc How to Participate: Sign-Up Here: http://www.brwa.net/images/PUA_Reg.pdf and send a form with the full team to Leslie or Lily: lalford@brwa.net, lily@pickupamerica.org Fundraising form: http://www.brwa.net/images/PUA_Fundraising.pdf The Proposed 45 mile Route http://www.brwa.net/images/PUA_Route.pdf An Advertising flier: http://www.brwa.net/images/PUA_Flier.pdf Schedule: 8-9 a.m.: Kickoff event and registration at Shelter #12 in Shawnee Mission Park 9-11 a.m.: Teams pick up litter across the route 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Lunch and victory photo at Shelter #12 in Shawnee Mission Park. There will be musical performances by Davey Rogne, Alexander Kapin, and Jeff Chen of Pick Up America along with other musical acts TBA.  It is free to participate, but teams are encouraged to use the walk as an opportunity to fund raise for these great environmental non-profits. We will be giving out free t-shirts and lunch to teams that fundraise and participate. Any individual who raises more than $25 will also recieve a free Stainless steel Pick Up America water bottle.

KCMO receives $20,000 grant to advance urban agriculture

News from City Hall

City Communications Office

City of Kansas City, Mo.

www.kcmo.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 13, 2011

City receives $20,000 grant to advance urban agriculture

The Urban Sustainability Directors Network has chosen the City of Kansas City, Mo., in partnership with the cities of Columbia, Mo., and St. Louis, Mo., to receive its Innovation Opportunity Fund Grant. This $20,000 grant will fund the research of effective policies and practices that advance urban agriculture across the country. Results from this research will demonstrate how Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia and other U.S. cities can better support healthy local food production for residents, including those living in urban food deserts.

“Promoting local food production in our community is one way that the City Council and I intend to increase the availability of healthy food for all our residents and simultaneously enhance the social, economic and environmental vitality of Kansas City,” said Mayor Sly James.

The City will work with the University of Missouri Extension’s Food Circles Networking Project, a group that connects residents with farmers, to compile a report of best practices, policies and ordinances to promote urban agriculture. The report will focus on urban food systems planning; consumer communications and education; urban food systems infrastructure; production and processing; and distribution, retailing and waste.

“We’re very pleased that Kansas City’s efforts to promote urban agriculture were recognized by the Urban Sustainability Directors Network with the awarding of this innovation grant,” said Sixth District Councilman John Sharp.“It will provide an opportunity to share our positive experiences with other cities and create a guidebook of best practices and policies.”

This project will be led by Dr. Mary Hendrickson, director of the Food Circles Networking Project and a professor at the University of Missouri Extension. Grant funding for the “Guide for Local Governments & Urban Agricultural Practitioners” will run through May 31, 2012.

For more information or media inquiries, 

please contact Dennis Murphey, 

chief environmental officer, at 816-513-3459.