The Environmental Affairs Committee selected four Certificate of Appreciation winners. Collectively, the winners are growing our local green economy, improving their business models with sustainable initiatives, working within their neighborhoods, and inspiring a new green generation.
Muddy Branch Alliance: The Muddy Branch Alliance continues its dedication to conservation, community engagement, and advocacy. Over the past year, it has expanded native plant restoration, invasive species removal, and water quality monitoring while strengthen partnerships. Key achievements include distributing 400 native trees, increasing native plant sales by 19%, doubling HOA collaborations, and expanding education programs, including a nature photography workshop and chloride monitoring for watershed protection.
Gateway Commons Homeowners Association Green Team: The Gateway Commons HOA Green Team has further developed its commitment to sustainable landscape and community engagement this year. Since attending a Sustainable Maryland workshop in 2023, the team has expanded its knowledge and partnerships to promote native pollinator gardens. Over the past year, they toured meadows and gardens, collaborated with other neighborhoods, and secured a $13,480 Chesapeake Bay Trust grant to create a 575-square-foot pollinator garden that will manage stormwater, support pollinators, and engage the community.
AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca has continued its role in leadership and sustainability in the biopharmaceutical industry. The site has made significant strides in waste reduction, biodiversity monitoring, and resource conservation. In 2024, it launched a food container reuse pilot, eliminating 7,300 single-use items and diverting more than 1,000 pounds of waste. It also formalized an annual biodiversity monitoring program, minimized ice melt use to protect watersheds, and earned top-tier certification from My Green Labs. A major milestone was commissioning a water recovery system projected to save 3.2 million gallons annually.
Benjamin Gaither Center Nature Club: The Benjamin Gaither Center Nature Club has continued its commitment to environmental education, community engagement, and healthy living in its programs and community. As a unique initiative within the senior community, the club connects members though nature-focused activities. In 2024, it hosted a Nature Room at the Gaithersburg Active Aging Expo, Walk & Talk programs, and lectures on birding, meteorology, and green burials. Members also toured conservation sites and the Montgomery County Recycling Center. A major highlight was securing a community gardening plot at Pleasant View Park for an intergenerational project with Gaithersburg’s Youth Services team.