BREWSTER – Sustainable Practices, a Cape-based nonprofit focused on promoting environmentally sensitive consumption choices, was awarded “Best Civic Entry” out of the 92 entries by the Chatham Independence Day Parade Committee.
The organization’s float featured a banner reading “Make our oceans GREAT again” and a seven foot plastic bottle made up of discarded plastic bottles collected during beach cleanups along the Cape coastline.
In addition, the float pulled a dinghy filled with bagged and sorted waste, including balloons, nip bottles, beach toys, and other discarded plastic items.
The giant bottle, which featured the “Cape Plastic Bottle Ban” logo was the creation of a joint effort by Suzanna Nickerson of Chatham and Patrick Otton of Harwich.
Both creators filed and facilitated the passage of Sustainable Practice’s Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban in their respective towns this spring.
The Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban is the first step in the organization’s longer-term strategy to significantly reduce single-use plastic on Cape Cod.
The ban prohibits town purchase of single-use plastic bottled beverages and the sale of beverages in single-use plastic containers on town property.
The initiative began in January and five towns adopted the policy this spring.
Sustainable Practices is preparing to file Citizen’s Petitions and work with other Cape towns this fall to establish the Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban as a Cape-wide policy.
“We are extremely happy to receive this recognition,” said Madhavi Venkatesan, executive director of Sustainable Practices.
“We plan to be visible throughout the summer, with many events ahead to compliment and further our Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban initiative.”
An award ceremony recognizing the winners of the eight Independence Day Parade categories will be held July 15th at the Chatham Board of Selectmen meeting.
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
