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. | | |
Welcome to the VP3N
Our Next Virtual Meeting is Tuesday, February 17
at 2:00 PM EST
In this edition:
- VP3N Monthly Meeting February 17 - Environment Virginia
- New VP3N Member
- Join VP3N
CVW Events and Announcements:
- EPS Ban Subgroup and Toolkit
- Plastic Bag Fee Subgroup
VP3N Partner Events and Announcements
- Hampton Roads Great American Cleanup
- Earth Month 2026 Activity Registrations
- ALX Dog Walk
Policy Sign-on Letters
- Microplastic Safety Act
- Plastic Pellet-Free Virginia
Conferences
- Virginia Green Travel Conference and Awards
- Virginia Association for Environmental Education
- Chesapeake Community Research Symposium
Publications and Articles
- The Cool Down
- Bay Journal
Monthly Highlights
- Plastic Message of the Month
- VP3N Partner of the Month - Potomac Riverkeeper Network
- Watch VP3N Recordings
*Newsletter content is provided by VP3N members
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VP3N Meeting - January 20
2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
Environment Virginia
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Environment Virginia has one mission: to protect the natural world.
They advocate ideas and actions to guide our country onto a greener, healthier path. Their network of 30 state environmental groups promotes clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. Their members put grassroots support behind their research, public education, advocacy and litigation.
Nothing is more important to the future than facing this fact: Infinite economic growth on a finite planet is neither wise nor possible. We must shift from deplete to preserve, from disposable to sustainable, from “never enough” to “enough.” Together, Environment Virginia's staff, members and other supporters are committed to winning changes that allow nature to thrive and our children to live healthier, more enriching lives.
February's speaker will give an overview of the plastic-related bills in the Virginia General Assembly this year.
Speaker: Elly Boehmer Wilson, Virginia State Director
Environment Virginia
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 contact joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org if you do not have the calendar invite and would like it.
| | 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. | | - Merrimac Farm Chapter, Virginia Master Naturalists
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Not an official member? Join for free today!
By joining the network, you get access to a Virginia-based marine debris listserv, your logo on the VP3N website, and collaborative opportunities on social media.
| | Join Our Monthly EPS Phaseout VP3N Subgroup | | |
When: Second Friday of the month, 12:30 - 1:30pm
Next Meetings: Friday, February 13
Friday, March 13
Where: Google Meet
What: This VP3N subgroup meets monthly to help businesses affordably and sustainably prepare for the expanded polystyrene (EPS) ban on July 1, 2026.
Details: Virginia's ban on EPS food containers begins on July 1, 2026 for all food vendors with fewer than 20 locations. Clean Virginia Waterways wants to ensure that these businesses have a smooth transition away from foam before next summer. If you are involved in food or food ware distribution, restaurant management, foam ban outreach and education, or are otherwise interested in helping ensure a seamless transition to more sustainable food container alternatives, please consider joining this VP3N subgroup to ask questions, offer your insight, and find collaborative opportunities.
We now have a digital toolkit to provide foam-free advertising designs, rack cards, and foam-free options. Distribute widely!
Email Joseph Barnes at Joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org to be added to the calendar invite with meeting link and agenda.
| | Join Our Monthly Virginia Plastic Bag Fee Subgroup | | |
When: First Wednesday of the month, 10:30am - 11:30am
Next Meeting: March 4
Where: Google Meet
What: This group strives to put together advocacy plans to help residents and organizations pass a $0.05 plastic bag fee in their city or county. If you would like to be added to the email list and/or calendar invite for this call, please email Joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org.
Who: Anyone who currently lives or works in a City or County that has the bag tax and is willing to share their stories, who has been involved in passing the bag tax and is willing to share lessons learned, and anyone who is interested in passing the bag tax in their locality.
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 cleanups, litter and pollution mitigation, environmental education efforts, and/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.
| | Hampton Roads Great American Cleanup | askHRgreen.org will host the Hampton Roads Great American Cleanup on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, 2026. Hampton Roads neighborhoods, military commands, youth groups, businesses, non-profits, and more are invited to join the nation’s largest community cleanup! Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup rallies more than 20,000+ communities nationwide to remove litter, restore public spaces, and strengthen local communities. Since 2012, volunteers have removed more than 327 tons of litter from Hampton Roads during these annual cleanups. Join us in keeping our region beautiful and thriving! Register at https://askhrgreen.org/cleanup | | Share Your Events on the Earth Month Map | |
Earth Month 2026 is coming this April, with this year's theme of "Our Power, Our Planet" emphasizing the power of collective action to achieve environmental progress. Earthday.org is calling on VP3N members to plan meaningful Earth Month activations for their community, ranging from advocacy actions (in all forms from public demonstrations to meetings with elected officials) to volunteer events like cleanups. Whatever way you're making Earth a better place this April, please register your actions for the Earth Month map for visibility and mobilization support to over 1 million users.
Looking for deeper collaboration or assistance planning your Earth Month event? Feel free to use this link to book a call with Evan Raskin, Earth Day National Campaign Manager.
| | Policy Letters of Support | | |
Please join Oceana, 5Gyres and the Center for Biological Diversity in calling on Congress to support the bipartisan Microplastics Safety Act (S.2353/H.R.4486).
Microplastics have been found not only in the oceans and environment, but also in the human body, including in the blood, lungs, livers, and male and female reproductive systems. Chemicals associated with plastics have been linked to serious health problems, such as cancer, chronic illnesses, and reproductive problems, but the health consequences of microplastics in people are less understood.
The Microplastics Safety Act, introduced by Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Scott (R-FL) and Representatives Bynum (D-OR) and Steube (R-FL), would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to conduct a study on the human health impacts of microplastics from food and drinking water.
The letter will close COB February 11th.
| | Support a Plastic Pellet-free Virginia | | |
Tiny plastic pellets called “nurdles” are being dumped into our environment by the millions — and often, the companies doing the dumping face no penalty.
Tell your Virginia legislators to keep this plastic pollution out of our rivers, lakes and oceans by supporting plastic pellet free waters.
| | Virginia Green Travel Conference and Awards | | Virginia Association for Environmental Education (VAEE) Annual Conference | | VAEE is a statewide non-profit network that empowers classroom and community-based environmental educators through resources, professional development, and capacity building. Their annual conference will be held February 26-28th in Richmond, Virginia. This year’s theme, Strength in CommunitEE, celebrates the power of coming together to share research, methods, and experiences that strengthen both our communities and the impact of environmental education. Experience dynamic learning sessions, hands-on activities, and meaningful opportunities to connect with peers and leaders in the field. | | Call for Abstract Submissions- Chesapeake Community Research Symposium | | |
The Chesapeake Community Modeling Program (CCMP) will convene the 2026 edition of their biennial symposium June 1-3, 2026, in Annapolis, Maryland. The theme of the 2026 Symposium is Chesapeake Bay Research and Restoration: Next Generation Tools for a Dynamic Future.
The CCMP is now accepting presentation and poster abstracts for the Chesapeake Community Research Symposium. It is their sincere hope that you will consider submitting an abstract for one or more of the sessions.
The deadline for abstract submission is February 13, 2026, at 5pm.
| | Publications and Articles | |
Officials move forward with new regulations that will force residents to change shopping habits: 'The only tool we have'
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Virginia cities push bag tax to keep plastic out of waterways
| | Note: The email message can sometimes cut off here when viewing in your inbox. Be sure to click "View Entire Message" at the bottom of the email to view the rest of the newsletter. | | |
This section is intended to help coordinate messaging, particularly via social media, to our supporters and networks across the state. To submit a graphic, website, or plastic-reduction tip that the VP3N should share, submit it to joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org with the subject line "Plastic Messaging."
This month's messaging comes from Clean Virginia Waterways' and Virginia Green Travel's partnership on their foam phaseout toolkit. Share the link to the foam resources webpage so that businesses and community partners can be equipped with the tools for an easy, sustainable transition away from foam products. Please direct your network to cleanvirginiawaterways.org/foam-phase-out, and utilize Virginia Green Travel's talking points from their email launching the EPS campaign! Be sure to tag Clean Virginia Waterways and Virginia Green Travel for additional reach!
| | VP3N Partner of the Month | | |
Potomac Riverkeeper Network is a dedicated environmental nonprofit working to protect the Potomac and Shenandoah watersheds and the communities that depend on them. Through science-based advocacy, community engagement, and legal action, PRKN tackles critical threats to water quality across the region.
This year, PRKN has taken a leadership role in addressing PFAS contamination, commonly known as “forever chemicals.” PRKN has opposed expansion of the use of PFAS-laden sewage sludge on Virginia farmlands, helped challenge weak regulatory permits, and joined farmers and local partners in legal efforts urging stricter controls on these toxic pollutants to protect human health and waterways.
Most recently, PRKN has been at the forefront of reporting and analyzing the significant sewage spill into the Potomac River, providing crucial water sampling data showing dangerously elevated bacteria levels following the January 2026 pipe collapse. Their rapid monitoring and transparent data sharing are helping inform the public and decision-makers about the spill’s impacts on water quality across the watershed.
Clean Virginia Waterways has chosen Potomac Riverkeeper Network as our VP3N Partner of the Month for their leadership on PFAS permitting in Virginia, with particular recent focus on Northern Virginia wastewater treatment plant permits. Their work on the sewage spill was quick, proactive, and strong, and we thank them for all their efforts keeping Virginia's waters clean! Keep an eye on PRKN's website for more updates about PFAS and the sewage spill.
| | Watch Last Month's VP3N Meeting | | |
Clean Virginia Waterways maintains VP3N recordings on its YouTube page.
View last month's meeting below, or follow the link for the Clean Virginia Waterways YouTube page for all available VP3N recordings. VP3N meetings will continue to be recorded and uploaded as they occur.
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The VP3N Monthly E-Newsletter Wants
YOUR INPUT!
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If you would like to have your upcoming event, resource, or publication mentioned in the monthly VP3N 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!
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Support the Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network | Please consider a donation to support the VP3N if you have found it to be valuable to you and your organization. We would appreciate your support of $10, $20 or more. A recurring donation to support Clean Virginia Waterways and the VP3N will assist with our operations costs, staff salaries as well as our work to communicate, collaborate and coordinate with you to prevent plastic pollution from entering Virginia's waterways. | | Clean Virginia Waterways is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. EIN 99-3105883. | | | | |
