Trash Free Maryland is the leading advocate for public policies and initiatives to reduce trash pollution in the state. 

We work toward a state of Maryland free of trash where land and waterways are safe and healthy for all to enjoy. We advocate, educate, and unite communities to eliminate trash in Maryland.

Prevent Litter, Reduce Waste, Protect Communities & Ecosystems!

Our History

Trash Free Maryland was incorporated in 2015 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on lasting change to prevent trash pollution. It was born years earlier when in 2009 Trash Free Maryland's original executive director, Julie Lawson, was asked to chair a policy working group for Alice Ferguson Foundation's Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative. This group brought together advocates, government employees, and elected officials to discuss trash policy. Members of the group worked to support plastic bag legislation sponsored by Delegate Al Carr in 2010, and then formed the Trash Free Maryland and Trash Free Virginia Alliances in order to assist with future litter reduction efforts. The Trash Free Maryland Alliance eventually became a standalone entity, and the "Alliance" was dropped in the name, so now we are simply Trash Free Maryland, although we continue to work in the spirit of collaboration and coalition-building.

Strategic Plan

In 2025, the Trash Free Maryland board of directors and staff convened a group of stakeholders to inform an organizational assessment in support of our development of a strategic framework to guide our near-term work (2025-2027).

Vision: We envision a Maryland free of trash where land and waterways are safe and healthy for all to enjoy.

Mission: We advocate, educate, and unite communities to eliminate trash in Maryland.

The 2025-2027 strategic framework reinforces our vision and mission and identifies the following strategic priorities and results. We are grateful for the support of Chesapeake Bay Trust and Due East Partners in facilitating this process.

 

Strategic Priorities 2025-2027:

  • Enhance capacity to drive the trash-free movement 

  • Advance local and state policies to eliminate trash at the source

  • Strengthen partnerships to mobilize action

Shared Results

  • Lands and waters are free of trash

  • Communities are empowered to take action

  • Legislators are informed and inspired to implement trash-elimination policies

  • Trash policies are evidence-based and rooted in community needs

 

Diversity Commitment

 

As we continue to advocate for public policies and initiatives to reduce trash pollution in the state of Maryland we recognize that these issues disproportionately affect marginalized populations. We know that our work will not be successful until we include these populations in every facet of our work.

We commit to amplify these underserved voices and strive for Environmental Justice in the following ways:

  • Broaden programming to include meaningful participation of marginalized populations/communities within 3 years from Board approval.

  • Increase diversity of the Board by 30% within three years.

  • Review each program/funding/marketing decision for alignment with our values of inclusion, equity and diversity.

  • As our staffing increases, increase diversity of staff.

  • We commit to including diverse voices in policy decisions to strengthen policy positions. We recognize without this perspective, policy is not inclusive and effective.

We know that these are just simple steps and only the beginning. We have already taken steps to make these changes and go beyond these objectives. Although we have set a concise timeline of the objectives above, we (the Board and Staff) will continue to look for ways to exemplify a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Approved by the Trash Free Maryland Board of Directors on May 12, 2021

Thanks to Our Supporters!

Abell Foundation

Keith Campbell Foundation

Ohana Foundation

The Munson Foundation

Amazon Smile

Lush Corporation

Mom’s Organic Market

Chesapeake Bay Trust

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)