Initiatives
From #LeaveWith3™ to refill stations, scholarships, recycling programs, and sea turtle nest adoptions, our initiatives are designed to create practical, lasting ways to protect the planet.
Initiatives
#LeaveWith3™
A simple idea anyone can put into action: wherever you go, take your own trash and leave with three extra pieces. #LeaveWith3™ is about making environmental responsibility part of everyday life. This fall, the program is expanding to UMass Dartmouth, with campus signage and programming designed to raise awareness and encourage students to take part.
Community Cleanups
Our cleanups bring people together to make a visible difference, one piece of trash at a time. Since 2020, Trash Turtles has led 50+ cleanups, mobilized 1,500+ volunteers, removed more than 6 tons of debris, and covered 300+ cumulative miles of shoreline. Everyone is welcome to get involved, whether it is your first cleanup or your fiftieth. Upcoming cleanup dates, locations, and event details are shared on Facebook and Instagram at @thetrashturtles.
Hope Scholarship
Since 2020, Trash Turtles has awarded eight Hope Scholarships totaling $8,500 to environmentally minded graduating high school seniors. Applicants submit an application and a creative two-to-three-minute video showing how they are doing good for the environment. The scholarship began at $500 in 2020 and has grown to $1,500 today. Past recipients have gone on to attend Harvard University, The Ohio State University, Clemson University, Florida State University, and the University of South Florida.
Sea Turtle Nest Adoption
The turtles that helped inspire Trash Turtles remain part of our work today. Since 2024, Trash Turtles has adopted a sea turtle nest each year through Clearwater Marine Aquarium "Protect the Nest" Program, with three nests sponsored through 2026 in support of sea turtle conservation.
Water Refill Stations
Trash Turtles has installed three water refill stations at Skycrest Elementary, Madeira Beach Fundamental, and Ponce de Leon Elementary in Pinellas County, Florida. Together, the stations have helped avoid an estimated 300,000 single-use plastic bottles, giving students an easy way to choose reuse over waste.
Cigarette Butt Recycling with TerraCycle
Cigarette butts are small, but they create a significant waste problem. Through TerraCycle's cigarette waste recycling program, Trash Turtles has collected and recycled the equivalent of 75,000+ cigarette butts, calculated by the total weight collected. It is one of our longest-running examples of taking something most people consider trash and finding a better place for it.
Free Recycling Programs TerraCycle
Trash Turtles also taps into TerraCycle's free recycling programs to give hard-to-recycle items another life. We organized a seven-state collection of writing utensils and office products, with one participating site alone collecting more than 1,100 pens, markers, and other writing instruments for recycling.
Other Programs
- Tooth Brush and Product Packaging
- Swiffers
- Razors and packaging
- Laundry Care Packaging