Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful
Working to end litter, reduce waste & beautify our communities
401.724.2200 -- 175 Main St. Pawtucket RI -- Donna Kaehler -- Fall 2019
RECYCLING. How Is RI Really Doing?
There have been many stories in the news about recycling in decline, but is that accurate for our state? Come get the answers.

On September 24 th , RIRRC’s Education & Outreach Manager Krystal Noiseux will visit KBVB to update us and set the record straight. 

Find out what RI is doing to make improvements on a local level, where RI sends our recycling, what is the current life of the landfill, and what everyone should be doing to ensure we are recycling properly. 

Come hear the facts, ask questions, and leave with current accurate information.  You’ll be confident you’re recycling right, then educate others. 

Tuesday September 24th - 1:30 PM - 3 PM
Blackstone Valley Visitor Center
175 Main Street, Pawtucket RI - (parking on Roosevelt Avenue)  

This is a free event, but space is limited. 
Blooming Communities Receive
Cash Prizes & Awards -
It paid to beautify their community. Entrants from the inaugural Blackstone in Bloom competition were awarded prizes at the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council last month.

Each town was presented with a garden stone and banner to display picturing each project, as well as a check to help fund future beautification projects in their municipality.
As the first place winner, the Town of Smithfield, was presented with a check for $1,000. The other towns also received checks, with 2nd place going to Town of Burrillville for $500, 3rd place to the Town of Cumberland for $250 and honorable mentions going to City of Pawtucket and Town of Glocester; each receiving $50.

Thank you to our sponsors -- BETA Group, Inc. & Lowe's.
Blackstone in Bloom started as an idea from our twinning city, Belper England, which annually hosts Belper in Bloom . Belper has earned many awards as they compete against communities from the East Midlands section of Britain.


We keep hearing "skip the straw", what is this idea all about?
Plastic straws are an item that have many questioning, for a variety of reasons, should we even use?

  1. Making plastic straws requires energy & resources, like all plastic items.
  2. Straws are made of very thin plastic and are meant to be used only once - so called "single use plastic" .
  3. Plastic straws are used for a few minutes, but are in the environment for centuries.
  4. Because of their shape, straws cannot be recycled, and must be trashed.
  5. Americans use 500 MILLION plastic straws a day-- enough to wrap 2.5 times around the Earth.
  6. Straws too often end up as litter, listing it among the top 10 marine debris items.
  7. When littered, straws harms wildlife and our ecosystems.
  8. Plastic straws leaves harmful toxic chemicals in our environment and in our animals if eaten.

"Do we really need straws in our drinks"?
We think no, for these reasons.
  1. They expose us to chemicals when used
  2. leave us with lots of trash to manage
  3. cause a major litter problem
  4. harm our animals and environment
  5. use resources that could be used in better ways.

Let's skip the plastic straw! Have your drink straw-less, use a paper or reusable straw, and support local businesses that have stopped using plastic straws.
Locally Hampton Inn Hotel, 2 George Street, Pawtucket did this! No more plastic straws there! We need more businesses to join in. Join the movement and serve straws only on request or switch to paper straws. Let KBVB know so we can share the good news.

End other single use plastic waste - While you're at this, look at these other single use plastic you can also easily stop using:

plastic shopping bags -- switch to reusable shopping bags
plastic water bottles -- use refillable bottles
plastic wrap - pack in reusable containers, or try beeswax wrap or the many alternatives.
plastic forks & cutlery - use reusable in your lunchbox or at parties.

Dragon Boat Event -- Recycled!
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council & The City of Pawtucket made this annual event "green" by making sure recycling carts were available.
With an estimated 6,000+ visitors at the event, the organizers were committed to reduce the trash generated as much as possible.

KBVB asked all vendors to think about their serving containers and use recyclable items where possible. Also the city supplied 20 recycle carts which were clearly labeled and placed throughout the venue, right next to the trash containers.

All 20 recycling carts were filled by the end. When we calculated amount of the recycling collected, we estimate over 2000 pounds . And in looking at trash generated, that was estimated to be only 2500 pounds.
That means our Dragon Boat event almost cut their trash in half ! What a great job by the staff, city and visitors. This showed when offered, people will recycle at events.

Interested in offering recycling at your event? Contact KBVB for ideas.
Get Your Fall Bulbs & Help KBVB
Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful is holding a fundraiser with Dutch Mill Bulbs.

For 50 years, Dutch Mill Bulbs have been helping folks grow flowers like a master gardener. Just plant your bulbs, water and enjoy a beautiful Spring garden. Every bulb is guaranteed to bloom or you get a free replacement.

We hope supporters will purchase their fall bulbs with this fundraiser program, allowing KBVB to receive a 50% profit for all bulbs sold.

Want to support? There are two easy options:

1 - Purchase on line. Individuals can click on our   KBVB personalized webpage. Orders will be charged a shipping fee but will be sent directly to your home.

2 - Purchase directly from our brochure. Request a brochure to share or come into the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. Orders should be turned into KBVB by Oct. 8th. No shipping charges are added to these sales, but orders will be sent to our KBVB office where you can pick them up.
For further details - email or call  Donna Kaehler @ 724-2200.
This is how you recycle plastic bags.
This is the way, and the only way to recycle plastic bags and plastic film in RI.

Take plastic bags and plastic film back to your retail stores-- NEVER in your curbside recycle bin.

You will find clearly marked ReSTORE containers, like the one pictured, at Lowe's, Home Goods, Dave's Market and many other stores you regularly visit.


Just bring clean, dry plastic bags and many more plastic film items. Did you realize ziploc bags, clean disposable plastic tablecloths, frozen vegetable bags, and bubble wrap are few of the items also accepted.

See our complete list of environmental programs. Visit:

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401-724-2200
Donna Kaehler -- KBVB Director