Neighbor News
ZeroTrash Is "Picking it Up" In Rancho Santa Margarita!
ZeroTrash has removed over 10,000 lbs. of trash from RSM streets and the wilderness areas surrounding our city! TEN THOUSAND POUNDS!
ZeroTrash started in 2007 when Laguna Beach resident Chip McDermott grew tired of seeing trash in the streets and on Laguna's beautiful beaches. Rather than accept the status quo, Chip founded ZeroTrash, an organization consisting of volunteers and local businesses dedicated to beautifying the environment and educating others as to the benefits of environmental awareness. His motto, "Pick it Up", became a rallying call to all Laguna Beach residents and business to help beautify their community.
In 2014, with the assistance of the Bell Tower Foundation, I founded the Rancho Santa Margarita chapter of ZeroTrash, and the RSM chapter has thrived ever since! This all-volunteer community organization remains dedicated to ridding RSM's streets and wilderness areas of trash, reducing waste, supporting local business, and educating others to take personal responsibility for our community and the environment!
Importantly, our ZeroTrash volunteers provide a service to the entire community without the support of any tax money whatsoever. Indeed, many Rancho Santa Margarita City Council members, Planning Commissioners and city staff regularly volunteer at our 1st Saturday events.
Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Now, here's the great news! I'm very pleased to report that over the past 5 1/2 years, our ZeroTrash volunteers have removed over 10,000 pounds of trash from our city streets and wilderness areas!
Again, over TEN THOUSAND POUNDS!
Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
I'm SO proud of all our ZeroTrash volunteers, and I wish to thank each and every one of them for their contributions. Without the assistance of the Bell Tower Foundation, church groups, scouts, Lion's Heart teen leaders, students, our generous sponsors, and city leaders such as John Christopoulos, Mike Vaughn, Anne Figueroa, Vanessa Scarbo, Chris McLaughlin, Jeffrey W. Shields, and many, many others, we could never have achieved so much over the past 5 1/2 years!
The ZeroTrash movement continues to expand to additional cities in Orange County, and with your support and encouragement, I intend to expand the ZeroTrash movement county-wide!
Please feel free to check out our website and consider joining us for our next "1st Saturday" event! Together, we can all help to "Pick it Up!"
