Cyclist to Launch Statewide Bike Trek to Raise Awareness for Proper Recycling
09-20-2019
Maggie's Ride

JOHNSTON, RI – On September 23rd, Let’s recycle RIght!, RI Resource Recovery’s award-winning public education campaign will conclude exactly the way it commenced, with a call for proper recycling. Leading the charge is Maggie Sheerin, an amazing young Rhode Islander and avid cyclist, set to journey across the state on her 7-day “RIde to Recycle RIght.” Along the way, Sheerin will visit businesses, institutions and municipal locations that have joined Resource Recovery’s commitment to decreasing confusion at the recycling bin. As one campaign wraps, another adventure begins!

Back in 2016, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to adopt a bin labeling solution from Recycle Across America, a national non-profit dedicated to standardizing recycling education in the United States. To date, over 85,000 labels are in place at more than 350 locations across the state. The standardized labels, along with Resource Recovery’s coordinated public education efforts, are aimed at reducing the amount of trash winding up in the mixed recycling—a challenge RI has been facing in recent years.

“While the recycling industry is facing challenges on a national level Rhode Island continues to have positive stories to share,” remarked Krystal Noiseux, Education and Outreach Manager for Resource Recovery. “We are inspired by Maggie’s passion for our recycling program and her commitment to its success. We wish her a safe and memorable ride across our beautiful state.”

While Sheerin will log an impressive 350 miles during her trip, this isn’t her first multi-stop ride. Back in 2017, she biked from Rhode Island to San Francisco to raise awareness for Recycle Across America’s mission. Her 10-week voyage was chronicled on their blog. You can catch up on her coast-to-coast trip here: https://www.recycleacrossamerica.org/post/maggies-manifestation.  
“We first met Maggie as she was preparing for her cross country journey in 2017,” remarked Mitch Hedlund, founder of Recycle Across America. “Now, fast forward two years later and here she is getting ready to bike across Rhode Island, where she’ll see the standardized labels displayed on many bins from town to town. It’s a full circle story! We love Rhode Island, Resource Recovery, and Maggie for joining this national mission to make it easy for people to recycle right, wherever they might be!”

You can find more information on the "RIde to Recycle RIght," including an itinerary at http://bit.ly/MaggiesRide. For those interested in joining Maggie during any leg of her trip, e-mail her at cycleforone@gmail.com. Please note her route is subject to change due to weather or road conditions.