Dive Brief:
- City officials in Baltimore have introduced a new initiative called "Clean Corps," which will rely on residents to make pledges to keep the city clean through door-to-door campaigns and organized block-wide cleanups.
- Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the goal of the initiative is to connect residents and businesses across the city with one common goal of keeping city streets cleaner. No neighborhood should feel alone in their efforts, she said.
- The initiative was announced at the 16th annual "Mayor's Fall Cleanup" event that was held on Saturday, where volunteers gathered to collect trash and paint storm drains.
Dive Insight:
"The city of Baltimore, like many cities across the country, faces issues that plague our streets, create health issues, pollute our waterways and reduce property values. Litter can be found blowing across the streets of Baltimore. It's just wrong, and we know that we can do better," Rawlings-Blake told the volunteers on Saturday.
The mayor has been an advocate for efficient waste collection in the city. In August, Rawlings-Blake announced plans to spend $10 million to purchase trash cans for every house in the city, aimed to control the city's rat population and decrease trash hauler injuries.
The city of Baltimore is showing a green thumb in other areas, as well. Baltimore's "Mr. Trash Wheel," an invention that has removed 331 tons of garbage from Baltimore's harbor, has been recently making a splash on Reddit. Additionally, a high-tech plastic recycling plant is expected to soon be built in Baltimore with help from the Closed Loop Fund.
