The mission of the Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network (VP3N) is to promote and facilitate coordination, collaboration, and communication among groups working to reduce plastic pollution throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

August 2025

The 5-year Anniversary of VP3N!

Welcome to the VP3N

Our Next Virtual Meeting is Tuesday, August 19

at 2:00 PM EST

In this edition:

• VP3N Monthly Meeting August 19 - International Coastal Cleanup
• Join VP3N, New VP3N Members
• Join, Host, or Sponsor CVW-sponsored International Coastal Cleanups
• Extended Producer Responsibility Webinar
• United States of Plastics Report
• Rappahannock River Outing Recap
• PlanRVA Pledges
• Virginia Bottle Bill Sign-on Letter
• Ranmarine Demonstrations
• Join our Monthly Virginia Plastic Bag Tax Call
• Save the Date - 9/9: CVW's Annual Stormwater and Plastic Pollution Workshop
• Save the Date - 9/27: CVW's 1st Annual Paddle for Cleaner Waterways
• VP3N Partner of the Month - Keep Loudoun Beautiful
• Watch VP3N Recordings
• Reduce Plastic - Tip of the Month



*Newsletter content is provided by VPPPN members

VP3N Meeting - August 19 from 2:00 PM

3:00 PM

International Coastal Cleanup Panel Discussion

Now that International Coastal Cleanup season is upon us, Clean Virginia Waterways is in full force helping to coordinate terrestrial, coastal, and aquatic cleanups across the Commonwealth.

Have you ever hosted a cleanup, or wanted to know how? Come to the VP3N meeting to learn how to host and register a cleanup, collect and use data, recruit volunteers, and more! We will have a panel of experienced speakers to relay their experiences and answer your questions.

A recorded presentation from Ocean Conservancy will precede the panel discussion, diving into the history and the results of the International Coastal Cleanup.

Speaker: Sarah Weller, Ocean Conservancy, Senior Manager International Coastal Cleanup and Data

Panelists: Heather McDaniel, Lead Park Ranger, Virginia District Division of Interpretation and Education, Assateague Island National Seashore

Jennifer Chu, Canoe Cleanup Coordinator, Keep Loudoun Beautiful

Emily Bodsford, Education and Outreach Specialist, Clean Virginia Waterways

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rfr-tygg-fry

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 620-878-0718‬ PIN: ‪528 875 567‬#



*Please note: This meeting link is new. A new calendar invite will go out the VP3N listserv. Contact joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org if you do not receive the calendar invite and would like to.

Members of the Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network (VPPPN) are organizations that are working on issues related to plastic pollution including non-profits, educational facilities, businesses, trade industries, researchers and governmental agencies.

NEW VP3N MEMBERS 

• Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District
• Earthday.org

INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP

VP3N Partner Events!

MARCO Webinar on Extended Producer Responsibility

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) will host an August 22 webinar at 11:00 AM examining regional and federal policies addressing marine microplastics and plastic waste. “Microplastics and Producer Responsibility” will be the final in a four-part MARCO webinar series exploring the impact of microplastics and microfibers on coastal and ocean resources in the region.

The webinar will highlight case studies of regional advocacy efforts and explore Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. It will explore how to engage businesses and policymakers in plastic waste reduction and prevention, discuss policy actions aimed at mitigating plastics, and identify actionable steps for stakeholder implementation.

The session will be moderated by Steve Raabe, owner and founder of the research firm OpinionWorks. It will feature the following panelists:

• Matt Gove, Mid-Atlantic Policy Manager, the Surfrider Foundation
• Angela Noakes, Plastics Policy Analyst, the Ocean Conservancy
• Sara Weitzel, Natural Resources Planner, Maryland Department of the Environment

The 2025 Microplastics Webinar Series has gathered leading researchers and policy experts to discuss key concerns, research gaps, and emerging solutions to this growing challenge. The sessions have aimed to share the latest scientific findings, spark conversations, and identify actionable steps for regional stakeholders. Visit the Marine Debris Work Group web page for links to recordings of the webinars. Questions about the webinars may be directed to events@midatlanticocean.org.

United States of Plastics Report Out Now

Ocean Conservancy (OC) is excited to share with you their new report, “United States of Plastics,” which analyzes laws to address plastic pollution in all 50 states and D.C. and assigns a score to each on a five-point scale.

In this report, plastic policy experts at OC reviewed laws to regulate single-use plastics, address microplastic pollution, support source reduction and reuse, and establish producer accountability and improve recycling. They also took into account laws that are hindering further progress whether by limiting the ability of local governments to regulate single-use plastics, supporting harmful chemical recycling or both. The report includes the top 10 items collected by International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) volunteers in each state, pulled from decades of ICC data (thank you!). OC's goal is to help each state understand their local plastic pollution challenges and identify opportunities for future action.

While states have proven to be leaders in passing laws to reduce plastic pollution, the national average score is 1.5 out of 5 stars or “needs improvement.” The results of this study show there is a clear need for increased action in every state to address the plastic pollution crisis.

Plastic Litter Education Advocates (PLEA) Rappahannock River Outing

Gabby Troutman, Virginia Outreach and Advocacy Manager, for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) invited a small group of government officials and non profits for a special outing on the mouth of the Rappahannock River, near the Chesapeake Bay aboard the Walter Riddle fishing vessel on Thursday July 10.

Karen Brown of PLEA joined Stafford Supervisor Meg Bohmke for the special outing:

"We dredged for oysters, trolled for marine life habitat, and set out crab pots. We caught a plethora of oysters, crabs and a variety of marine life! The fishing boat captain said that a variety of marine life is key to the health of the Bay and the Rivers.

Staff from the CBF gave talks about the current general health of the

ecosystems in the Bay, and the techniques for extracting their data. We

also learned how the CBF was a key player, along with other non profits

and local governments, in bringing back the native oyster population to

the mouth of the Rappahannock and the Chesapeake Bay.

The CBF said nitrogen run off from farming has improved, but is still the

largest contributor to pollution in the Bay, however, the CBF’s newest

challenge is septic tanks from the aging homes along the creeks and rivers and that feed the Bay, as well as the Bay itself."

Congratulations to CBF and PLEA on this wonderful outing to educate others on the importance of our healthy and clean waterways!

PlanRVA Seeking Partner Pledges

PlanRVA is partnering with localities in the Richmond region to promote litter prevention. The Don’t Trash Central Virginia campaign unites localities in Central Virginia in a fight against litter. The goals of the campaign are to increase awareness of litter and its negative impacts in the community, build knowledge about litter prevention strategies, and encourage action through participation in public clean-up opportunities.



The Campaign welcomes businesses and organizations as campaign partners who share the vision of a litter-free Central Virginia. Join our effort to dump the financial and environmental costs that come with litter.

Virginia Bottle Bill Organization Petition Sign-on

Virginia Bottle Bill – Take Action!

The Virginia Bottle Bill is moving forward with a confirmed Chief Patron and co-sponsor in the House of Delegates for the 2026 session. This refundable deposit program on beverage containers will reduce litter, increase recycling rates, and protect public health from the dangers of microplastics.

We need your help! Please sign and share our petition to show legislators that Virginians want action on plastic pollution. When you sign, it automatically sends an email to all of your local elected officials—making your voice heard instantly. Every signature counts!

RanMarine Coming to Virginia

RanMarine Technology is a cleantech company that designs, manufactures, and distributes emission-free autonomous surface vessels like WasteShark, MegaShark, CyanoShark and OilShark. These ASVs remove plastic, algae, waste, and oil while gathering critical water-quality data for clients. RanMarine was a featured VP3N speaker last year and is coming back to the U.S. East Coast for some WasteShark demonstrations! The WasteShark is designed to collect floating plastics, debris, and biomass along coastal and in inland waterbodies, i.e. harbors, ports, marinas, rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, etc.

RanMarine will be in Virginia the week of September 8! Reach out to the Head of Global Sales, Darrin Kirby, at darren.kirby@ranmarine.io to schedule a demonstration for your organization and locaility.

LRNow Virginia Beach Plastic Bag Support Letters

LRNow has support letters for the general public and for students of Virginia Beach to sign and send to their City Council representatives, urging them to pass a plastic bag fee in the City of Virginia Beach. LRNow also has developed talking points and graphics in addition to their support letters.

Other Clean Virginia Waterways Events

Join our Monthly Virginia Plastic Bag Tax Call

When: September 3 @ 10:30 (first Wed of each month)

Where: Google Meet

What: VP3N started a monthly plastic bag tax call for our members. Our scheduled meeting time is the first Wednesday of the month at 10:30am. If you would like to be added to the email list for this call, please email Joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org.

Details: Any city or county in Virginia may impose a 5₵ tax on each disposable plastic bag provided to shoppers in local grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies. The city or county needs to pass an ordinance to begin applying this tax.

The store collects the tax at the time of the sale. Money raised by this tax goes to support environmental cleanup, litter and pollution mitigation, environmental education efforts, or to provide reusable bags to recipients of SNAP or WIC benefits. 

For more information, please see Guidelines for the Virginia Disposable Plastic Bag Tax.

Save the Date - September 9, 2025

CVW's Annual Stormwater and Plastic Pollution Workshop

Join Clean Virginia Waterways on September 9th at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, VA for a workshop to discuss the impacts of debris and plastic pollution on stormwater management systems.

This one-day workshop will address the pressing need to address stormwater challenges in Virginia, where rising sea levels and increased precipitation intensify the risks of flooding and water pollution. Workshop participants will be equipped with practical strategies and innovative approaches to manage stormwater effectively while enhancing the resilience of their communities. This workshop will emphasize the need for collaboration and proactive planning to mitigate the impacts of stormwater on both natural ecosystems and human settlements in Virginia.

You’ll have a chance to ask questions, share best practices from your locality, connect with colleagues across the region, and provide your insights on this important topic. There will also be an opportunity to provide input for the 2026-2030 update to the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan. We look forward to this opportunity to connect with you

LOCATION: Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Rd, Chesterfield, VA 23832

TIME: Networking starts at 11:00 AM. Workshop will be 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM

AGENDA: Coming soon!

REGISTRATION FEE

IN PERSON: $45. This fee includes coffee, drinks, lunch, and snacks.

Virtual: Free. The workshop will be available to stream on Google Meet without a registration fee. Streaming attendees will only be able to watch the presentations and will not be able to participate in the Setting Priorities for Updating the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan session.

Sponsorship and Vendor opportunities are available. Please contact Terra at Terra@CleanVirginiaWaterways.org for more information.

Register to attend the workshop in-person or virtually by following the link below!



A Google Meet link will be emailed to virtual participants.

Save the Date - September 27th

CVW's 1st Annual Paddle for Cleaner Waterways

When: September 27, 2025 @ 1 PM

Where: Long Creek, Virginia Beach

Why: To raise funds and awareness for Clean Virginia Waterways' mission to prevent and reduce marine debris, specifically plastic pollution, through hands-on action, community education, and awareness.

Join us for a 3 mile or 1 mile Paddle for Cleaner Waterways on Long Creek in Virginia Beach. We are looking for registrants, volunteers, sponsors, and organizations around Virginia to participate and support this awesome effort to spread awareness and education for Clean Virginia Waterways to enhance the health of Virginia’s water resources through pollution prevention, education, and stewardship activities involving Virginians from the classroom to the boardroom.

Whether you are a seasoned kayaker, canoer, or SUP paddler or just want to take some lessons, we will have a little bit of everything to offer all registrants, including an AFTER PARTY at Ballyhoos!

Keep your eyes out for the registration page and sponsorship information coming your way soon! Please contact Terra@CleanVirginiaWaterways.org with any questions regarding participation or sponsorship!

VP3N July Partner of the Month

Keep Loudoun Beautiful

Keep Loudoun Beautiful was the first organization to host a Clean Virginia Waterways-registered cleanup during the 2025 International Coastal Cleanup season, and we are so thrilled to work with them. Keep up the good work!

Keep Loudoun Beautiful is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization began in 1972 when a group of concerned citizens took the county's litter problem into their own hands. Our purpose is to maintain the natural beauty and visual quality of Loudoun County, encourage and educate citizens to help keep Loudoun beautiful and promote public awareness of environmental challenges and common-sense solutions like reducing, reusing and recycling. General annual goals have been to conduct roadside and community litter cleanups throughout Loudoun and attend educational, environmental, and local fairs to educate the public regarding the environmental challenges we face as well as a call to action.  We work hand-in-hand with a host of community and government organizations to keep the county's environment healthy and attractive.

Watch the Previous VP3N Meetings

CVW has consolidated its VP3N and CVW YouTube accounts

Follow the link below for the Clean Virginia Waterways YouTube page, which now features a VP3N playlist, made up of available VP3N recordings over the past four years. VP3N meetings will continue to be recorded and uploaded as they occur.

Reduce Plastic - August Tip of the Month

The Plastisphere, by Anja Krieger

The Plastisphere is a podcast about the plastic pollution crisis and how we can learn to have a healthy relationship with the plastic materials we've created. Currently, host Anja Krieger is publishing episodes on the ongoing Plastics Treaty talks in Geneva, Switzerland.

Discover the podcast and learn more about the movement anywhere you anywhere you stream music/podcasts!

If you would like to have your upcoming event (or publication) mentioned in the monthly VPPPN eNewsletter, write a paragraph with the following information, and email it to VirginiaPPPN@gmail.com. 

FORMAT: Submissions to the VPPPN monthly eNewsletter must be sent as a Word or Pages document or as text in an e-mail. Word limit: 150. You can also send us a photo, logo, or flyer as a JPG.

CONTENT: Include the title, time, date and place of the event or program, and a phone number (with area code) or e-mail address of a contact person. State if the program is free or has a fee; has an age requirement or other restrictions; or has a registration deadline or welcomes drop-ins. Also include the name of the group sponsoring the event, and a website (if available) for more information. 

Are you reading a book about plastics, environmental justice, ocean sustainability and health or another related topic? What about a podcast series relevant to plastic pollution or marine debris? We want to know so we can share that information with other VPPPN members!

The Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network is a Program of Clean Virginia Waterways, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and

Eco Maniac Company.