$100,000 Grants Awarded to Prevent Plastic Litter from Entering the Great Lakes
Dart Container-funded program supports stormwater solutions through the Circular Great Lakes Initiative
Cleveland, OH—May 23, 2025—The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) has been awarded $100,000 in grants from Dart Container to disperse to communities to expand the use of stormwater filtration technologies that prevent litter and debris from entering the Great Lakes and their connected waterways. Now in its fifth year—and its third in partnership with Dart—this program is part of the Circular Great Lakes initiative, a multi-sector effort to eliminate plastic pollution and establish a circular economy for plastics in the region.
Grants will fund the purchase and installation of innovative devices, such as the LittaTrap™ and Gutterbin, designed to capture land-based litter, oil, and sediment before they flow into storm drains and ultimately pollute local rivers and lakes. Installation sites span communities across the U.S. and Canada and the devices will be monitored throughout the year to collect data that informs long-term solutions.
“In the Great Lakes alone, it is estimated that 20 million pounds of plastics, mostly public litter, could be entering the lakes each year through a variety of sources and pathways, including local stormwater catch basins,” said Lora Shrake, Interim Executive Director of the Council of the Great Lakes Region. “With the installation of innovative technologies in these catch basins, we are able to not only capture and remove this litter before it enters our waterways, but also show local residents what we are finding and what impacts this litter is having on our natural environment so that we can stop it from happening.”
The Great Lakes contain 84% of North America’s surface freshwater and provide drinking water to 40 million people in the U.S. and Canada. Protecting this critical ecosystem is central to Dart Container’s environmental mission.
“Dart Container is excited to sponsor this grant program to help protect the Great Lakes region and its ecosystem,” said Libby Rice, Sustainability Program Manager at Dart. “Environmental stewardship is an essential piece of Dart’s sustainability platform, and we’re committed to protecting the communities in which we live, work, and play. Our partnership with the CGLR Foundation and the Circular Great Lakes initiative is one of many ways Dart is investing in our communities and inspiring others to make a meaningful difference.”
Since the partnership began, Dart-funded grants have supported stormwater projects in Michigan, Illinois, and Ontario. The program emphasizes ease of access, as no formal grant writing experience is required to apply.
Launched five years ago by Dart, the grant program has been administered for the past three years by the Council of the Great Lakes Region under the Circular Great Lakes initiative. Since its inception, the program has supported stormwater filtration projects in communities across Michigan, Illinois, and Ontario. The application process is designed to be accessible and no formal grant writing experience is required.
To learn more or apply for a grant, visit www.circulargreatlakes.org/captureandcleanup.
About Dart Container Corporation
Dart makes everyday products that give people the freedom to enjoy the food & drinks they love wherever they are. From to-go containers and dinnerware to tamper-evident food packaging and even the red Solo cup, Dart products have been keeping people on the go and having fun for more than 60 years. Headquartered in Mason, MI, Dart has a decades-long record of environmental leadership, innovating and investing in sustainability practices that are practical and results-focused to reduce landfill waste, marine debris, and litter. Learn more about Dart’s sustainability commitments at dartcontainer.com/sustainability.
About CGLR
CGLR, comprised of CGLR Canada, the CGLR Canada Foundation, CGLR USA, and the CGLR Foundation, is a network of charitable and non-charitable organizations in the transnational Great Lakes–St. Lawrence region focused on accelerating the regional transition to a sustainable future by uniquely bringing diverse perspectives and interests together to explore and solve our most pressing socioeconomic and environmental challenges as one North American Great Lakes region. Through its work, CGLR is striving to create the first sustainable region in the world. For additional information, please visit https://councilgreatlakesregion.org/. More information on Circular Great Lakes can be found at https://www.circulargreatlakes.org/.
