As you walk around downtown Bethesda, you may notice the recycling bins strategically placed on busy street corners. An organization called Bethesda Green placed these bins, which promote recycling with environmental sayings.
Bethesda Green was founded in 2009 to promote sustainable living practices around the Bethesda area.
“That’s recycling, energy efficiency, renewable energy such as solar, local food, all those sorts of efforts that we believe is what makes Bethesda a livable, wonderful place to be,” said Dave Heffernan, Outreach and Communications Manager at Bethesda Green.
Bethesda Green took up roots in the area as an environmentally friendly initiative founded by Honest Tea co-founder Seth Goldman and county councilmember George Leventhal.
With support and funding from Goldman and Leventhal, Bethesda Green was able to grow through various sponsorships and reach out into the community with educational events, Heffernan said.
Honest Tea, one of the most significant sponsors for the organization, donates products to events hosted by Bethesda Green. Honest Tea’s position in the community as a leader in sustainability also adds awareness to Bethesda Green’s mission.
Honest Tea, along with its owner Coca-Cola, has also assisted Bethesda Green in the funding for the well-recognized recycling bins all around the area.
“They provided the funding to purchase the bins,” Heffernan said. “Then we put the branding and environmental message, and worked with Bethesda Urban Partnership to launch the project.”
Bethesda Green takes part in many outreach events, including the Taste of Bethesda and the Bethesda Green Gala, both occurring the second week of October.
“We’re usually participating with a table or a tent. It’s more about information awareness, getting out there in the community, letting people know who we are and what we’re about, and our general mission,” Heffernan said.
An organization eager to spread its mission, Bethesda Green offers start-up businesses, called incubator companies, an opportunity to operate in a less expensive environment and develop a shared community where they promote eco-friendliness.
Bethesda Green always has volunteer opportunities, but not in the way one might think. According to Heffernan, they include promoting the volunteer’s own eco-friendly actions and training students in their Leadership Academy, helping them develop their leadership skills and increasing awareness to make Bethesda a sustainable area.
In the future, Bethesda Green hopes to grow and strengthen their mission and work in collaboration with other organizations, Heffernan said.
“The future is hard to predict,” he said. “But we have some clear goals for the next year, like broadening our view of sustainability.”
