Karen Beber Futernick, an enthusiastic kitesurfer, is no stranger to the sight of trash, such as plastic bottles and beer cans, littering the beautiful waters of Biscayne Bay.
In her new role on Key Biscayne’s Sustainability Advisory Board, she has quickly implemented initiatives to address environmental issues head-on.
Notably, she spearheaded an innovative aluminum canned water recycling initiative during the Fourth of July parade.
This endeavor aimed to foster a more environmentally friendly community and has already yielded promising results, with the preliminary report indicating the lowest plastic usage in any Key Biscayne parade in recent memory.
According to Village officials, this significant reduction in plastic waste is a direct result of Futernick’s dedication and effort.
Futernick, affectionately referring to this initiative as her “baby,” is riding the momentum of new sustainability policies.
As of June 1, a resolution was enacted that prohibits the usage of single-use plastic products in all municipal facilities, including the government center, Community Center, and local parks.
Furthermore, the Village previously banned polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam) products in these places back in 2014.
Emphasizing the importance of community compliance with these policies, Futernick stated, “It’s important that if the Village has this policy, we have to be able to finish that sentence, and that means collecting and recycling.”
She highlighted the benefits of aluminum, noting that it is infinitely recyclable, which underscores her commitment to sustainability.
Support for her recycling initiative came from various local organizations, including the Key Biscayne Community Foundation and Crossbridge Church, both purchasing over 3,000 Open Water cans.
Open Water is a brand established in 2014 by University of Miami graduates Nicole Doucet and Jess Page, known for its effective and eco-friendly canned water.
These aluminum cans not only cool water more quickly, but they also maintain that coolness longer than their plastic counterparts.
Moreover, Open Water contributes 1% of its profits to ocean-related initiatives, aligning with Futernick’s environmental goals.
Another key partner in this initiative was KOPŪ Water, an aluminum water can company with connections to Key Biscayne, which aided in the logistics of collection, weighing, and eventual recycling of the cans.
Thanks to the collaboration with Zero Waste Culture, 14 recycling bins were strategically placed along the parade route, and volunteers actively engaged with the community, distributing cans and educating parade attendees about proper can disposal.
These dedicated volunteers endured a hot and humid day and were appreciated with complimentary organic juice from The Spruce Juice and pizza from the local Domino’s.
Futernick expresses her motivation by stating, “I have no dog in this fight; I’m just trying to get people to do the right thing.”
Her approach combines education about environmental sustainability with the pragmatic implementation of recycling facilities available on the island.
She believes that for the initiative’s impact to match its intent, it is crucial to ensure accessibility to both the cans and recycling options.
As a long-time resident of Key Biscayne, with nearly 30 years of commitment to the community, Futernick is also deeply engaged in other environmental initiatives.
She serves on the Steering Committee of the Biscayne Bay Marine Health Coalition and acts as the county’s liaison for The Surfrider Foundation’s Miami Chapter, reflecting her determination to maintain clean waters and coastlines free from pollution.
Observing the aluminum cans being passed out during the parade, unscattered and properly disposed of, was a fulfilling experience for Futernick.
Reflecting on the success of this first-time effort, she stated, “I’m very happy with the way things went since it’s a new initiative.”
Futernick expressed aspirations to replicate this successful model at every Village-sponsored event moving forward.
She aims to regularly introduce eco-friendly solutions to the public, whether that be aluminum water cans or compostable bamboo-based cutlery.
Recognizing that people often feel too busy to conduct their research on sustainability, Futernick hopes her clear initiatives can guide them towards making better environmental choices.
With the new ordinance, Futernick believes that Key Biscayne’s efforts will serve as a model for other municipalities.
As a sign of continued community involvement, the next Village Sustainability Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on July 21, open to the public and viewable on VKB-TV.
image source from：islandernews
