CARE (Creating A Responsible Environment) for the Cape & Islands, Cape Cod Anti-Litter Coalition and Center for Coastal Studies will be hosting their bi-annual summit at Heritage Museum and Gardens, 67 Grove St, Sandwich, on Nov. 3.
The summit will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the community is invited to attend this solutions-focused event to discuss reducing litter.
Deadline for registration is Oct. 21 and the cost is $30 including lunch.
The summit will present two panels of speakers of local, county and state officials and representatives from businesses and nonprofits.
The first panel includes speakers from Cape Cod Canal Chamber, Nauset Disposal, Cape Cod Anti-Litter Coalition, Massachusetts State Police and Town of Sandwich who will present the extent of the problem and the resulting impacts of roadside trash.
In addition, well-known litter expert, Laura Ludwig from the Center for Coastal Studies, will discuss the harmful impacts of litter on marine life and habitats. Understanding the challenges and impacts of litter helps attendees determine where they can contribute to solutions.
The second panel will discuss viable solutions to how we might begin to stem the tide of litter here on the Cape and beyond. Alan Andrade, Deputy District Highway Director for MassDOT, will share current MassDOT initiatives to help reduce the likelihood of litter entering our water bodies. Sen. Susan Moran and Rep. Dylan Fernandes will provide insight to the steps that can be taken by our elected officials to facilitate a multi-level resolution of this issue. Litter Free Falmouth, Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District, Cape Cod Commission, Keep Massachusetts Beautiful and CARE’s Executive Director, Jill Talladay, will all share tools, strategies, and ideas for a collaborative effort to prevent the litter problem that plagues the Cape and its surrounding waters.
Take Care Cape Cod is a messaging campaign that originated in Lake Tahoe and was introduced in 2019 to Cape Cod by CARE for the Cape and Islands. The messages are simple, eye-catching and humorous to encourage stewardship. For example, messages encourage proper disposal of dog waste, cigarette butts and general litter. Earlier this summer it introduced the three ARRR’s campaign using a friendly pirate that asks people to Reduce Reuse Recycle in order to reduce waste.
CARE for the Cape & Islands’ mission is to inspire stewardship to preserve and protect the natural environment and cultural and historic treasures of the region.
