June 2025
Image Credit: Moriah Ratner/For The Washington Post
Have you noticed your clothes aren’t lasting as long as they used to? Think the only solution to a ripped pair of pants is to go out to buy a new one? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the quantity of textiles sent to the landfill has ballooned since just a few decades ago, from 1.7 million tons of textiles thrown away in 1960 to 11.3 million tons in 2018. But this trend doesn’t have to continue. Through reuse programs here in the District, you can save yourself some cash and potentially learn a new skill, all while contributing to the Sustainable DC goal of facilitating local reuse and recovery of materials.
Reuse DC is the District’s overall reuse initiative, serving as a hub for learning where to repair, donate, and shop second-hand household items. One of the programs under the umbrella of Reuse DC is ReThread DC, focused on reuse and recovery of textiles. The ReThread DC team has been busy this spring, hosting a series of clothing swaps, mending workshops, and more. The events even got featured in the Washington Post! Check out what’s coming up in the events section of this newsletter and add some extra life to your textiles!
 |
2025 District Sustainability Award Winners Spotlight
The District Sustainability Awards highlight businesses, individuals, and organizations that are working toward a more sustainable DC. This year, six winners were announced at Destination DC’s Sustainability Summit. We will highlight one every month in the newsletter. This month we are featuring Ama:
Ama is a mission-driven restaurant dedicated to sustainability, nourishment, and non-toxic dining. The restaurant prioritizes regenerative agriculture, installed a fully electric kitchen, and has a commitment to being single-use plastic-free and free of polycarbonate plastics. Ama operates within a LEED-certified building which features a green roof and manages a waste reduction program that includes composting, ingredient repurposing, and donation initiatives.
Check out the award winner case studies to learn more!
|
|
 |
Applications Open for Climate Leadership Program
The Sierra Club DC Climate Leadership Program provides seven months of hands-on training and mentorship to young and aspiring environmental activists. Sierra Club Climate Leaders learn about pressing local environmental issues and their solutions. Then, working with a supportive mentor, each participant develops and delivers an impactful capstone project that promotes the sustainability and health of the District of Columbia. The program is open to students who live in DC who will be a high school junior, sophomore, or freshman during the 2025-2026 school year (as well as high-school aged students from non-traditional schools). The first round of applications will be accepted by June 30, with a second round by August 1. Learn more and apply at https://www.sierraclub.org/dc/climate-leadership-program.
|
|
 |
Applications Close Soon for Climate and Energy Leadership Awards Program
Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions across metropolitan Washington are invited to apply or nominate candidate projects or programs for the 2025 Climate and Energy Leadership Awards. The deadline to submit an application/project summary file is June 30. Learn more and submit an application at https://www.mwcog.org/environment/planning-areas/climate-and-energy/climate-awards/application/.
|
|
 |
National Arboretum Extends Hours for the Summer
For the first time, the National Arboretum will have extended evening hours this summer, staying open until 8:00 p.m. most days from June 1 to August 30. This change will make the vast, 451-acre green space that sits on the shores of the Anacostia River more accessible for residents. Learn more about what the Arboretum has to offer at https://www.fona.org/visit/.
|
|
 |
Seniors Show Off Their Sustainability Actions at Senior Fest
On Wednesday, May 21, the Sustainable DC team participated in Senior Fest, an annual event filled with music, dancing, entertainment, food, and resources for seniors from across all eight wards. At the Sustainable DC table, participants learned about the District’s sustainability goals and tried their luck at trivia to learn how close we are to meeting those goals. A couple of attendees showed off what they do to be more sustainable: “I ride the trolley! (DC Streetcar)” and “I compost!”
|
|
 |
Sustainable DC Has a New Look
Did you notice our newsletter’s new look? We’re doing some sprucing up of the Sustainable DC website, newsletter, and social media accounts. The fresh look provides a new way to represent and engage with the District’s plan to be the healthiest, greenest, most livable city for all residents.
|
|
 |
 |
Volunteer to Help a Neighbor and Become a DC Heat Ambassador
As temperatures rise throughout the summer and extreme weather brings power outages that impact the safety of vulnerable populations, Serve DC and the Department of Energy and Environment have partnered with We The People Community Health Worker Corps & Coalition to recruit, train and support residents serving as volunteer Heat Ambassadors. Volunteers will receive community emergency response team training, be matched with community members to contact during a heat emergency or weather event, and use a mobile device to report contact notes to Heat Ambassador DC. Learn more and sign up at http://heatambassadordc.org/.
|
|
 |
Apply To Get a Discounted Electric Bike for Food Delivery
The District of Columbia's E-Bike Food Delivery Pilot aims to promote and test the use of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, for app-based food deliveries. Starting in July 2025, the pilot will provide a group of 35 food delivery workers with discounted access to an e-bike, including a bike lock, a helmet, a food delivery service bag, and access to charged batteries. Read more and apply by June 26 at https://form.jotform.com/251343741318150.
|
|
 |
Request for Applications - Lead Poisoning Prevention Outreach and Collaboration
The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) seeks eligible entities to educate and inform low-income residents in Wards 1, 4, and/or 5 about their children’s potential exposures to lead and how to protect them. DOEE expects to fund two entities for a total of $60,000. The deadline for application submissions is June 30. Learn more at https://doee.dc.gov/node/1784226.
|
|
 |
Have You Heard About Going Electric? Fill Out This Survey!
The Department of Energy and the Environment is trying to understand how residents feel about switching their gas appliances to electric and wants to hear from you! Please take 5 minutes to fill out this survey to share your experiences, thoughts, and concerns about electrification. What you say will help DC tailor its programs and resources to better support residents who want to transition their homes to electric. The survey closes July 27.
|
|
 |
Greater Greater Washington – Development and Communications Director
Greater Greater Washington is a nonprofit organization that works to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice in land use, transportation, and housing throughout Greater Washington. The Development and Communications Director is responsible for fundraising strategy development and execution. For more information and to apply, visit the position listing page. Applications are due June 29.
Potomac Riverkeeper Network – Part-Time Development Assistant
Potomac Riverkeeper Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the public’s right to clean water in our rivers and streams. The Development Assistant position is a great opportunity for someone who loves the outdoors, is passionate about protecting clean water, has Salesforce experience, and is interested in a career in fundraising. For more information and to apply, visit the position listing page. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Climate Change and Rising Heat: A Growing Threat to Older Americans: This Washington Informer article highlights the dangers of extreme heat on older adults and provides individual and community-level measures to reduce risk.
I wanted to make flood risk visible. So I painted a mural: This Washington Post opinion piece highlights a new mural on the Georgetown waterfront that depicts the impacts of flooding on local landmarks.
Fix It DC Summer Road Trip
Fix-It DC events are community repair events dedicated to changing the “throw-it-away” mentality. Visitors bring their broken items to the Fix-It DC event where volunteer Fix-It coaches provide guidance in troubleshooting how to repair each item. The next events are away from the regular location and will take place Wednesday, June 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Park Library (3310 Connecticut Ave NW) and Saturday, July 19, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Southwest Library (900 Wesley Pl SW). Visit https://doee.dc.gov/service/fix-it for more information and to register.
|
|
 |
Escape the Heat: Electrify Your Way to Comfort
Do you want to upgrade your home to electric but don’t know where to start? Do you want to improve your home’s efficiency, decrease energy bills, reduce health risks from gas appliances, and take advantage of rebates and incentives? Join virtual group coaching sessions on June 25 or July 15 or visit your neighbor on June 26 or July 8 to see how they’ve electrified their home and to ask all of your questions. Sessions will be hosted through the summer in person and virtually. Sign up now to get started on your electrification journey! More information is at electrifydc.org.
|
|
 |
ReThread DC Upcycling Workshop
ReThread DC will be hosting the next installment of its workshop series on Sunday, June 29 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Southwest Neighborhood Library (900 Wesley Pl SW). The workshop will teach upcycling techniques, hand and machine sewing, and pattern making while attendees turn old pants into new skirts or shorts. Attendees are asked to bring a pair of pants in any material type. Tools will be provided. Attendees will learn new skills alongside their community as they are led by a group of seasoned sewers in the fight against fast fashion. All ages are welcome. Sewing experience is recommended but not required. Please register through the DC Public Library’s events page. More information can be found at doee.dc.gov/service/rethread-dc.
|
|
 |
|
