PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kathy Huber, Founder
Painted Bins.org
1550 Tiburon Blvd., Suite G255
Tiburon, CA 94920
415.847.7126
kathy.paintedbins@gmail.com
https://paintedbins.org

TRASH BASH CELEBRATES YOUTH, ART, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

TIBURON, CA – April 25, 2024 – Painted Bins, a project of nonprofit Sustainable Marin.org, held its first annual fundraiser, Trash Bash, on Thursday, April 18th at the Mill Valley Community Center in Marin County. With its focus on fostering the next generation of young environmental stewards, Trash Bash offered the 100+ attendees the opportunity to see, hear and experience how Painted Bins is working cross-sector with students, parents, teachers, schools, waste management, and local businesses, as well as Marin towns, cities and the county, to build constructive community education, action and impact around waste diversion and composting.

During the sold-out event, guests marveled at 120 whimsical posters with their significant messages about saving the earth and composting – all created by 3rd- 6th graders in 10 Marin schools. The art was made as part of the Painted Bins Art Contest, which placed children’s art directly on the sides of compost bins in public places to drive awareness about the importance of keeping food waste from the landfill and greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. According to the UN EP (https://www.unep.org/news-and- stories/video/whats-deal-methane) over a 20-year period, methane is 80 times more potent at warming than carbon dioxide and Methane has accounted for roughly 30% of global warming.

The evening’s program was led by Grace Gehrman of Larkspur’s Redwood High School, the MC (fondly known as the “Master of Composting”), while 6th grade students, Mia Nilforoush and Giuliana Serafini, captivated attendees with their impactful speeches about how their posters remind community members that simple actions such as food waste diversion can lead to big change.

Climate Educator of the Year was awarded to Liza Mathews, Art Teacher at Neil Cummins Elementary School in Corte Madera, for her participation in the Painted Bins program, inspiring students to take action with environmental initiatives such as composting.

“We were thrilled with the response that we had to Trash Bash,” noted Kathy Huber, Painted Bins’ Founder. “Our success in raising funds to build more environmental stewards in more schools was key to our growth. Today’s youth will inherit the earth, so it is important to give them a voice and listen to what they have to say. The Trash Bash event offered attendees the ability to learn directly from student speakers and their artwork, how to create meaningful and constructive impact upon climate change.”

Trash Bash was generously sponsored by Mill Valley Refuse Service, Bank of Marin, Harbor Point Charitable Foundation, Ideas Events & Rentals and Hadley General Contractors.

About Painted Bins.org

Painted Bins works with local schools to create inspirational posters that are placed on compost bins in parks and other public places to keep food waste from the landfill, and greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. Through its processes, Painted Bins educates the public about waste diversion, beautifies environments, and creates environmental stewards. Painted Bins is currently working with 11 schools and 5 communities in Marin County. Painted Bins is a project of Sustainable Marin.org, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. To learn more, visit https://PaintedBins.org

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