ZeroTrash is coming to RSM!!!

Litter.  I hate litter!  I pick it up every single day as I walk my two pugs, and it keeps on coming back.  Last weekend, I carried three sheets of aluminum siding, two large styrofoam containers, a metal construction sign and countless bottles and cans out of the Arroyo, wondering how and why anyone would even consider polluting this beautiful environment.   

Years ago, Laguna Beach resident Chip McDermott was just like me.  He was frustrated seeing trash in the streets and wilderness areas of his beautiful city. As a result, he rallied his community and created the "ZeroTrash" program, starting an environmental movement that truly thinks globally, but acts locally. Just as important, he found that he was not the only one who wanted to do something to protect and beautify his community.  

In addition to organizing the community to remove litter from the streets and surrounding wilderness, ZeroTrash also advocates for city governments to provide a greater infrastructure of public recycling, trashcans and cigarette butt disposal. Quite simply, ZeroTrash provides all of us the opportunity to take personal responsibility for our environment, and to pass these lessons along to our children.

The ZeroTrash movement has thrived, and along with the Bell Tower Foundation and the RSM Chamber of Commerce, I'm very proud to help start our own chapter of ZeroTrash movement here in Rancho Santa Margarita!

"First Saturday" is the cornerstone of the ZeroTrash movement. It’s a monthly open-house event which rallies residents and local businesses to “Pick-Up” the streets, parks and wilderness areas.  Everyone is welcome: parents, children, students, scouts, neighbors, church groups, sports teams – anyone interested in having fun while keeping RSM beautiful!  Are you a student that needs to satisfy your school service hours?  A scout that would like to earn your badges?  Or are you like us; someone who would simply like to do something to beautify your city and the surrounding wilderness areas?  

Please join us for our first "First Saturday" event on April 5 at 10:00 am at Panera Bread, located at 30642 Santa Margarita Pkwy!  Panera Bread is graciously providing the muffins and drinks, and with the assistance of the ZeroTrash program and our own business community, we will be providing the T-shirts, trash pickers, etc.

We are blessed to live in this beautiful community, a city designed with care and surrounded by pristine wilderness.  But with blessings come responsibilities.  Won't you please join our RSM ZeroTrash movement?  

For more information, please feel free to contact the Bell Tower Foundation at admin@belltowerfoundation.org, or contact me directly at BMcGirr@cityofrsm.org.

Remember, it’s not just about the trash TODAY – it’s about the trash TOMORROW and teaching future generations the importance and the rewards of keeping our community clean and beautiful.  See you April 5!

Mr. McGirr serves as the Mayor Pro Tem for the city of Rancho Santa Margarita. He resides in RSM with his wife, Julie, and their three children