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, September 15
at 2:00 PM EST
Join Here
In this month's newsletter:
- VP3N Monthly Meeting September 15: VP3N Update Discussion and Virginia Waterways Cleanup
CVW Events and Announcements:
- Plastic Bag Advocacy Workgroup
VP3N Partner Events and Announcements
- Clean Fairfax's Reusable Party Kit
- "We're All Plastic People Now" Chesapeake Screening
- Virginia Bottle Bill Announcements
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Workshops
- Keep Virginia Beautiful LOVE VA Cleanup Events
- 17th Annual Upper Occaquan River Cleanup
Sign-on Letters
- Virginia Bottle Bill Support Petition
Jobs and Internships
- Virginia Bottle Bill looking for volunteers
Monthly Highlights
- Plastic Message of the Month - Virginia Conservation Network 2027 Common Agenda
- VP3N Partner of the Month - Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council
- Watch VP3N Recordings
Newsletter content is provided by VP3N members and partners
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VP3N Meeting - September 15
2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
VP3N Updates
Virginia Waterways Cleanup
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As part of the VP3N's Annual Review, a survey was sent out to all members associated and involved with the VP3N. In September's meeting, we will review the results of the survey and make a plan for 2027's VP3N meetings and how to further integrate it with the 2026 - 2030 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan.
Plus, hear from Clean Virginia Waterways' Cleanup Coordinator on how to get involved in the Virginia Waterways Cleanup, part of the International Coastal Cleanup- host or partake in litter cleanups, recruit volunteers, and collect valuable litter data across the state!
There is still time to give your thoughts in our survey before the VP3N meeting. Take the survey here.
Speaker: You!
And Kathryn Martin, Virginia Waterways Cleanup Coordinator
Clean Virginia Waterways
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: meet.google.com/bgq-gdtt-kcy
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.
| | The Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network is open to all members of the public, particularly for Virginia organizations working on issues related to plastic pollution including non-profits, educational facilities, businesses, trade industries, researchers and governmental agencies. | | Plastic Bag Fee Workgroup | | |
Clean Virginia Waterways runs a policy workgroup dedicated to helping more cities and counties pass ordinances to address single-use plastic grocery bag pollution. Meeting times are 10:30 - 11:30am on the first Wednesday of each month.
To learn more, follow this link and contact us to join!
| | Borrow a Reusable Party Kit from Clean Fairfax | |
Clean Fairfax is excited to announce a new program: we now offer reusable party kits for anyone in the community to borrow. Whether you are hosting a birthday party, holiday get-together, or an event for your community group or business, we have party kits to lend!
Rather than spending money on disposable, single use paper plates, plastic cups and cutlery, you can borrow our reusable kits for your event needs. Clean Fairfax kits are made of sturdy dishwasher-safe reusable plastic that can be cleaned, returned, and offered again to the next community member who needs them. This saves money, reduces wastes, and conserves our resources while supporting a circular community model.
Clean Fairfax has four kits for adult gatherings, each serving up to 30 guests, and a children’s party pack for up to 36 guests. Each adult party kit includes: large plates, small plates, bowls, cups, cutlery (forks/knives/spoons) and a tablecloth.
Each children’s party kit includes: plates, bowls, cups, cutlery (forks/knives/spoons) and a tablecloth.
We also have the following add-on items available for you to borrow: serving trays, large and medium serving bowls, serving spoons, tongs, and fun cocktail/mocktail cups.
The kits are free to borrow, although a suggested donation is always appreciated. There is also a refundable $50 deposit required to secure the kits. The party kits are available for pickup at the Clean Fairfax office at 10400 Eaton Place, Fairfax, VA and can be borrowed for up to a week. Kits must be returned clean and dry. Reserve your reusable party kit online at the Clean Fairfax website.
Clean Fairfax is an independent 501c3 nonprofit that encourages environmental stewardship and urban sustainability in Fairfax County, Virginia through education, programming and community involvement. Learn more on our website at www.cleanfairfax.org and follow us on social media: IG/Threads/Bluesky: @CleanFairfax and FB: @CleanFairfaxCouncil.
Learn more and get your own reusable party kit at https://www.partykitnetwork.org/
| | We're All Plastic People Now Free Movie Screening | | Virginia Bottle Bill — Senate Champion Secured! | | |
The Virginia Bottle Bill Organization is excited to announce that Senator Angelina Graves has officially agreed to champion the Virginia Bottle Bill in the 2027 General Assembly session!
This is a major step forward for establishing a bottle deposit return system in Virginia and keeping beverage containers out of our waterways, communities, and landfills.
We are continuing to build our coalition of legislators, organizations, businesses, and community members across the Commonwealth, and we’d love for VP3N members to help us keep the momentum going.
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We’re also working with Clean Virginia Waterways to organize HalloCLEAN, a Halloween-themed community cleanup focused on removing litter and plastic pollution from our local environment.
We’re currently finalizing the date, time, and location and will share those details as soon as they are confirmed. We’d love to have VP3N members and partners join us for a fun, spooky, and impactful cleanup!
| | Chesapeake Bay Foundation Events | | |
Love Where You Live!
Big change begins with everyday actions. During LOVE VA, individuals, families, schools, businesses, organizations, and communities across Virginia are invited to take part in activities that make their corner of the Commonwealth cleaner, greener, and more beautiful.
Use the Keep Virginia Beautiful Network to:
- Find or create a volunteer event
- Record cleanups, recycling, beautification, planting, and other activities
- Track volunteers and community impact
- Earn recognition and become eligible for prizes
Every activity counts—from picking up one neighborhood block to organizing a community-wide project. Already doing good work? Log it in the app and make your impact part of Virginia’s statewide story.
LOVE VA runs September 15–November 15, but you can use the KVB Network to organize and report activities all year long.
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| Virginia Bottle Bill Organization | | Our concern for the environment, frustration over Virginia’s poor recycling rates, and the production of ever-increasing mountains of single-use plastic and trash has spurred us to fight for change by asking our legislators for a "Bottle Bill" for Virginia. We need your help to drive awareness that this is both feasible and possible in the Commonwealth. Sign the petition now so we can send your elected officials an email and let them know that you support legislation to establish a beverage container deposit system to help reduce litter, increase recycling, reduce greenhouse gases and create jobs. | | | |
The Virginia Bottle Bill Organization is currently looking for volunteers and supporters to help with outreach, petition sharing, community education, and coalition-building ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
If you or your organization would like to get more involved, please contact Jaimi O'Keefe, Legislative Director, Virginia Bottle Bill Organization. jnokeefe.evr@gmail.com
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| Please Note: When viewing this newsletter, it can sometimes cut off around here in your browser. Please click "View Entire Message" at the bottom of your screen to continue reading. | | 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 virginiapppn@gmail.com with the subject line "Plastic Messaging." | Virginia Conservation Network 2027 Common Agenda | |
Welcome to VCN’s 2027 Common Agenda, the most comprehensive overview of Virginia’s environmental policy landscape. A collection of papers written by, vetted through, and voted on by VCN’s 170+ Network Partners, this briefing book explains the Commonwealth’s environmental policy background and potential opportunities for clean water & flood resilience, land & wildlife conservation, land use & transportation, climate & energy, and good governance.
Our Common Agenda is published annually and widely circulated to policymakers, educational institutions, civic leaders, environmental advocates, and the public. No matter which of those categories you fit in, VCN looks forward to working with you on the topics in this book.
Check out the chapters on "Plastic Pollution and Producer Responsibility" and "Plastic-to-Fuel: A False Solution"!
| | VP3N Partner of the Month | Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council | | |
The purpose of the CEIC shall be to promote interest in improving the environment of Chesapeake, Virginia, thereby making Chesapeake a greener, cleaner, and healthier city in which to live, learn, work, farm, and play. The CEIC will accomplish its purpose through outreach, education, and volunteer efforts to include litter and pollution prevention, waste reduction and recycling, beautification, conservation landscaping, and other environmental and conservation issues.
Clean Virginia Waterways has chosen the CEIC as the VP3N Partner of the Month for their leadership in arranging the movie screening of "We're All Plastic People Now" at the Chesapeake Library's EcoFest on September 12, and for their ongoing work and assistance in the plastic bag advocacy workgroup. Thank you, CEIC!
| | Watch Last Month's VP3N Meeting | | |
Clean Virginia Waterways maintains VP3N recordings on its YouTube page.
Follow the link to 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. | | | | |
