Put A Lid On It Florida!

This blog post was written by Emma Bolton, a 2026 Marine Plastics Ambassador.

This is an example of content Emma Bolton designed, along with her “Put A Lid On It” logo

I often find that most of the litter that I see has made its way out of trash cans whether from the wind taking it elsewhere, an animal pulling it out thinking it is food, or trash cans overflowing with garbage. By installing lids on trash cans the amount of trash in waterways and the environment will be less. Not only would this help the health of the environment but it will also positively impact human health, animal health, and keeping Florida beautiful. 

In 2021, I collaborated and worked with Hernando County Parks and Recreation and installed trash can lids and signs to help reduce trash in a few Hernando County public parks. It has had such great results that I wanted to pursue Put A Lid On It statewide. The campaign I created with the support of EarthEcho was in support of the introduction of a statewide Put A Lid On It policy in Florida. This policy would ensure that all public parks install lids on their trash cans. The main goals of this campaign was to educate about the importance of discarding trash and litter properly and to get the campaign made into a statewide policy. 

Put A Lid On It Florida!

To pursue my campaign goals I started both an Instagram (@putalidonit) and Facebook page, created an email account, and started posting and sharing about different environmental and plastic initiatives and how individuals could support the Put A Lid On It policy. By filming and designing content for social media I was sharing educational information. To get my audience engaged, I shared on social media a Put A Lid On It Challenge. To participate all you had to do is pick up litter, share a picture or video of yourself or your findings, and tag my page, 73lbs were collected and properly disposed of. 

I have also contacted multiple local and state level elected officials and representatives, organizations, and groups about this policy solution. Additionally, I started an online petition to help garner support. I had the amazing opportunity to have a table with my petition to get signatures, water educational papers, Put A Lid On It pins and bookmarks, and candy for those who attended Tampa Bay Watch’s cleanup for International Coastal Cleanup Day. It was so great talking with everyone about how installing lids helps reduce litter. 

On International Coastal Cleanup Day Emma Bolton had a table set up to educate volunteers about ‘Put A Lid On It’ policy at Tampa Bay Watch’s cleanup (Photo Credit: Emma Bolton). 

‍Campaign Impact

  • Online Petition:
    • Signatures: 131
    • Views: 1,795
    • Shares: 95
    • Petition Promoters: 10 = $122
  • In-person petition signatures: 17
  • Social Media “Put A Lid On It” Challenge: 73lbs of litter collected and properly discarded.
  • Cleanup with Tampa Bay Watch: ~50 event attendees
  • Instagram Statistics:
    • Followers: 240
    • Views: 19,867
    • Likes: 723
    • Comments: 61
    • Reposts: 95
    • Shares: 125
  • Facebook Statistics:
    • Followers: 64
    • Views: 3,025
    • Reactions: 167
    • Shares: 50
Photos taken at the International Coastal Cleanup Day event of a few attendees after dropping off what they found (Photo Credit: Emma Bolton). 

My Advocacy Journey

Something that I will always be grateful for is the support I have received. None of the work I have done or continue to do would be where it is if it was not for those who support me and my work. I am always reaching for growth in my journey as an advocate and in my work, so everyone’s support and care for a better world means so much to me and has challenged this campaign for the better.

Being a Marine Plastics Ambassador has been one of the best experiences I have had the chance to participate in. It taught me so many invaluable skills that I will continue to use and take with me. Despite my campaign not yet being successful with my primary goal, the work is not finished and I hope to take my knowledge and experiences and continue on. Something that I realized is although not everyone will support environmental policies, there are more people who care for our waterways and environment that come together to support than I knew. An amazing aspect of this Ambassadorship is how great of a community is built within the Ambassadors and EarthEcho team. Learning alongside like-minded individuals is a great support.

‍

Looking Ahead

My goal is to continue on with Put A Lid On It and to continue to educate. To learn from this, I would definitely continue having a heavy social media presence despite having low engagement and I would also try for more in-person events. Learning from my local experience and trying statewide, I am planning on shifting my next steps. I am thinking about starting with my local connections to build upward in hopes to achieve my policy campaign. 

If you would like to continue following my work check out my Instagram account, @PutALidOnItFL and my Facebook account, “Put A Lid On It - Florida”! If you have any additional questions or would like to support in any way, feel free to reach me via these accounts or email me at PutALidOnItFL@gmail.com.

Take Action! Click here to sign Emma’s petition.

Learn more about the EarthEcho Marine Plastics Ambassadors at https://www.earthecho.org/plastics-ambassadors.