The Mt. Baker Hub Alliance has been leading “First Saturday Monthly Clean-Ups” since 2015. Cleaning up our neighborhood has been a priority for this organization because we know that refuse on our streets, around our schools and in our green spaces, is not only an eyesore but also poses health and safety hazards.
As part of our effort to educate and engage the community and create a clean and safe Mt. Baker Hub, we recently partnered with Mt. Baker Meaningful Movies, South Seattle Climate Action Network, Greenpeace Seattle, Surfriders Foundation, Zero Waste Washington and the Mount Baker Community Club to show the movie, Plastic Ocean. Close to 100 people came to the event and visited tables with information from each of the partner groups. Mt. Baker Hub Alliance Board President, Eve Keller, told the crowd about our monthly clean-ups and she and other volunteers were able to connect with people interested in joining these efforts.
We applaud local businesses practicing sustainability
We were glad to co-host this movie because when our Hub volunteers are picking up garbage at our monthly cleanups, most of what we collect is plastic. This isn’t surprising given that majority of what consumers buy is made of, or wrapped in, plastic. China is no longer accepting most plastic recycling from the United States so even when plastic is disposed of properly, it often can’t be recycled. Because of this, plastic garbage is being dumped into landfills or, as the movie title suggests, into the ocean. This is a systemic problem which is causing major health and environmental impacts — as a planet, as a country, and in our own local community. So we want to applaud local businesses looking for sustainable alternatives to plastic. One of those businesses is Buddha Bruddah (located at 2201 Rainier Ave S.). On a recent visit, board-members were pleased to learn that all of Buddha Bruddah’s takeout containers are compostable.
Thank you for everything, Buddha Bruddah!
This year, Mt. Baker Hub board members are adding more street cleanups to the calendar. In mid-February, they visited businesses located at the north end of the Hub business district. The cleanup started at Buddha Bruddah, where board-members were welcomed by owner, Mark Mizer. Mark greeted board members with a huge smile and stories about his mother’s cooking. After the cleanup, board members were delighted to sit down and enjoy their, plastic free, delicious lunches! Thank you, Buddha Bruddah!
Join our ‘First Saturday’ Monthly Clean-Ups
If you are interested in participating in the ‘First Saturday’ Monthly Clean-Ups, volunteers meet at 9 AM in front of the Hao Mai preschool, located in the Artspace Building on Rainier Avenue. The Hub provides bags, gloves and garbage pickers so you don’t need to bring supplies.
Meet new friends, take care of the planet, and create a cleaner, safer Mt Baker Hub! Thank you! (RSVP for April here.)
—Anne Miller, Hub Board Member
