Fitchburg commissioners pivot Plastic Free July toward citywide outreach and plastics drop‑off education

Fitchburg commissioners on May 11 endorsed a shift in Plastic Free July activities toward community education about recycling options and the city’s new plastics drop‑off capability.

Kim (on the phone) told the commission she attended a Ridwell event that drew a large audience and convinced her that an educational outreach approach — showing residents the types of plastics accepted at the local drop‑off and explaining differences between curbside and drop‑off acceptance — would reach more people than one‑off bag giveaways. "We can recycle plastics here in Fitchburg at our drop off‑site," Kim said, and proposed separate outreach formats for single‑family and multifamily audiences.

Commissioners discussed venues (library, the Hub) and formats (standalone outreach events vs. pairing with a film screening), recording and posting materials on Fitchburg channels, and tailoring messaging for multifamily properties. They agreed to meet as an outreach subcommittee in the coming weeks to finalize location, date and promotional strategy. The group also discussed partnering with local retailers and community organizations and using the city's green e‑news, Fitchburg Connect and flyers to boost awareness.

Kim suggested starting with single‑family residents this July and expanding to multifamily outreach later, noting the city's drop‑off facility and volunteer support could sustain repeated events. Staff said promotional resources exist but budgets are limited; commissioners proposed postcards, social posts and leveraging existing city channels to maximize reach. The commission will convene an outreach meeting to set dates and responsibilities ahead of July.