Annapolis, MD (July 26, 2013) – The Rotary Club of Annapolis and Annapolis Green, a local environmental group, will launch an expanded recycling effort for the 68th annual World’s Largest Crab Feast Aug. 2 in Annapolis.
Each year nearly 2,000 people consume more than 300 bushels of crabs, more than 3,000 ears of corn, gallons of crab soup, and lots of other food – and most of the residue has been hauled away in a local garbage truck to a landfill. This year the club’s planning committee was approached by Annapolis Green to see if it were possible to help that group meet its goal of making Annapolis the greenest city in Maryland, a place where sustainability is a way of life and a source of pride.
“What better way to show we are concerned about our environment than to take on this large challenge of cleaning up at the end of the Annapolis Rotary crab feast,” says Lynne Forsman, co-founder of Annapolis Green. “We are taking a small step this first year to see what will work.”
“In the past, crab feasters have helped by tossing some of their consumables into the club’s recycling containers,” says Jeff Neufeld, crab feast chairman. All cans, bottles, and glass still will go into designated receptacles which then go to the Naval Academy recycle trailers and bins. This new effort will include only the crab feast’s Preferred Dining area closest to Farragut Road this year, with the planning committee and Annapolis Green observing how the project can grow next year. The Preferred Dining area is expecting about 500 guests, so this will represent almost 25% of the total attendees this year.
The challenge after the annual crab feast is cleaning up the stadium site within two hours after the large crowd departs. It includes trash removal, stripping tables of brown paper and debris, sweeping and washing down the grounds, and folding and stacking tables and chairs. It is an all-hands-on-deck procedure, with Annapolis Rotarians and other volunteers lending a hand and their strong backs.
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Annapolis Rotary Crab Feast
July 26, 2013
At the Preferred Dining area Annapolis Green will provide 50-gallon drums as “Eco Stations” marked for recycling and landfill. In addition, there will be 64-gallon bins for compositing all food and organic trash. The compost bins are supplied by Veteran Compost, a company which was founded here in Maryland by Justen Garrity, an Iraq War veteran.
“Just think, in eight weeks the crab shells and brown paper will compost for somebody’s garden,” says Elvia Thompson, Annapolis Green co-founder.
Informational items will be given to Preferred Dining guests to understand and appreciate the “greening” of the event. Severn Savings Bank is sponsoring Annapolis Green’s recycling and composting efforts for the Rotary Club of Annapolis.
At the end of the evening, compostable items will be hauled away by Annapolis Green compost teams; the recyclable bottles, cans and plastic will go to the Naval Academy recycle areas; and trash will continue to go to the trash truck.
“We essentially are going to complete a trial run to learn this first time what works and what needs improvement,” Mr. Neufeld says. “We are excited to help improve the community, not just with grants for local organizations but also the environment.”
Proceeds from the Annapolis Rotary Crab Feast benefit local non-profits that apply each year for funds raised by the event. Last year more than $50,000 was given to the community groups. More than $1 million has been awarded since the first Annapolis Rotary Crab Feast in 1946.
The event will be held rain or shine from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis. Tickets are $60 for adults, $20 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children under the age of 3. Preferred Dining tickets are $120 per person. For information, call 1-877-333-9667 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For tickets questions, email Annapolis@showare.com or visit www.annapolisrotary.org.