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 16
at 2:00 PM EST
In this edition:
- VP3N Monthly Meeting September 16 - EARTHDAY.org
- Join VP3N, New VP3N Members
CVW Events and Announcements:
VP3N Partner Events and Announcements
- VCN 2026 Common Agenda
- Bausch + Lomb Eyecare Product Recycling
- Grocery Store Plastic Bag Recycling Capability
- Foam-free Kits Available for Restaurants
- Toxic Single-use Foam Action Letter
- International Coastal Cleanup Coordinator Toolkit
- Library of Things
- REUSE Act Sign-on Letter
- Webinar for Sustainable Schools- Reusable in the Cafeteria
*Newsletter content is provided by VP3N members
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VP3N Meeting - September 16
2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
EARTHDAY.ORG
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EARTHDAY.ORG's mission is to broaden, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day in 1970, EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for our planet.
Join EARTHDAY.org's Manager of End Plastic Initiative Aminah Taariq-Sidibe, and National Campaign Manager Evan Raskin, where we will discuss the EARTHDAY.org organization:
- How EARTHDAY.org supports partners and allies for mobilization
- Work on plastics advocacy and the rhetoric that has been effective
- An event map for World Cleanup Day
- And how Evan and Aminah can assist in local and state plastics policy advocacy
You are also invited to participate in an audience Q&A and to share any local, county, or state-level work you are conducting and in which you might be interested in having EARTHDAY.org's support! The goal is to foster mutual support.
Speakers: Aminah Taariq-Sidibe, Manager of End Plastic Initiative
Evan Raskin, National Campaign Manager
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. | | INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP | |
Clean Virginia Waterways is ramping up the 2025 Virginia Waterways Cleanup!
Dear partners,
We’re excited to continue the Virginia Waterways Cleanup, running from August through November! This impactful effort is part of the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup, and the data collected plays a vital role in advancing our mission to protect and preserve our waterways.
Become a Site Captain!
If your group or organization has not yet signed up to lead a cleanup and request supplies, you can do so below. By signing up, you and your organization will play a key role in organizing volunteers, raising (even more) awareness, and collecting data for this international and local effort.
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Registration Open!
CVW's 1st Annual Paddle for Cleaner Waterways
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When: September 27, 2025 @ 1 PM
Where: Long Creek, Virginia Beach
Entry at Ballyhoos, 2865 Lynnhaven Dr
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 4- 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, we will have a little bit of everything to offer all registrants, including an AFTER PARTY at Ballyhoos!
Learn more and register using the button below. For any questions regarding participation or sponsorship, contact Terra@CleanVirginiaWaterways.org!
| | CVW's Zach Huntington Interviewed About Virginia's Foam Ban | | |
Virginia’s new EPS foam takeout-container ban is officially in effect (for restaurants with 20 or more locations) — and while it’s a big win for our waterways, it’s just the beginning.
CVW's Marine Debris Strategy Director, Zach Huntington, told VPM that foam shows up in many forms beyond food service — and it’s far from the only plastic that ends up polluting our rivers, beaches, and ocean.
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Virginia's ban on expanded polystyrene food containers enters in on July 1, 2026 for all food vendors with fewer than 20 locations. Clean Virginia Waterways wants to ensure that these businesses have an easy time transitioning away from foam before next summer. If you are involved in food distribution or selling, the foam ban, or are otherwise interested in helping ensure a just transition to more sustainable food container alternatives, please consider joining this new workgroup to ask questions, offer your insight, and find collaborative opportunities.
The first meeting will be Friday, September 19 from 12:30 - 1:30pm EST. Following meetings will take place on the second Friday of the month at 12:30pm./
Email Joseph Barnes at joseph@cleanvirgiaiawaterways.org to be added to the calendar invite with meeting link and agenda.
| | Join our Monthly Virginia Plastic Bag Fee Workgroup | | |
When: October 1 @ 10:30 (first Wed of each month)
Where: Google Meet
What: VP3N has a monthly plastic bag fee workgroup 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 and/or calendar invite 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.
| | Virginia Conservation Network Releases The 2026 Common Agenda | | |
170+ organizations, 97 environmental experts, 47 environmental priorities: ONE Common Agenda! The VCN Common Agenda is the most comprehensive overview of Virginia’s environmental policy landscape. Leading conservation experts provide the background for Virginia's existing environmental policies that are in place, why the issue matters, and potential solutions. Check it out to see all of the major environmental goals our conservation movement will pursue over the next year!
The "Clean Water and Flood Resilience" section contains a chapter on "Plastic Pollution and Producer Responsibility."
| | Recycle Your Contact Lenses! | | |
Bausch + Lomb have partnered with TerraCycle to recycle used contact lenses and lens and eye care products.
To participate, bring your used contact lenses, eye care, and lens care materials to official ONE by ONE eye care practice recycling locations. Make sure your items are empty and dry. Subject to availability.
Each participating eye care practice collects the materials in a custom recycling bin provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once the bin is filled, the eye care practice ships the materials to TerraCycle to be properly recycled.
Abigail Clark, the Clean Marina Program Specialist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is collecting a box of these recyclable objects at VIMS. Reach out to Abigail at acclark@vims.edu to schedule a drop-off, or find the nearest drop-off location to you on TerraCycle's map.
| | New Article on Grocery Store Plastic Bag Recycling | | |
The Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions just published an article by Rick Galliher, which documents a study he conducted on how effectively grocery store plastic bag drop-off bins recycle the plastic bags. Rick placed luggage trackers in plastic bags and tracked the bags' locations after store drop-off to better understand the complete life cycle after being put in the collection bins.
You can read the full article and findings about seven grocery store chains in Virginia. It is important to remember that the best option for single-use plastic grocery bags is to avoid using them, but if they must be used, then it is good to know which drop-off site offers the better chance at the bag getting recycled.
| | Foam-free Kits Available from AskHRGreen | | |
A new program from askHRgreen is supporting small restaurants during Virginia’s polystyrene phase out. Through grant funds, AskHRGreen's Recycling & Beautification Committee has assembled Foam Free Restaurant Kits that include samples of alternative takeout containers in a variety of sizes and materials. These kits are available at no cost to restaurants in Hampton Roads. There are supplies for approximately 100 kits, available on a first-come, first-serve basis. In addition to the sample kits, they have developed a variety of educational resources including a rack card explaining the foam phase out, an activity booklet for kids, and BYO To Go campaign materials (stickers, window clings, table tents).
Please help spread the word to local restaurants so they can take advantage of this opportunity to see what a foam free operation is like for them. Interested restaurants can apply to receive supplies by completing the form at https://askhrgreen.org/foam-free/
| | Toxic Foam Letter Submitted to Congress | | |
In July, a group of over 200 business owners, local elected officials, and community leaders from across the country issued a letter to Congress urging them to take action on toxic single-use plastic foam. Often known by its brand name styrofoam, this material is especially harmful to human health and the marine environment. Thank you to the many members of our coalition who added their names in support!
| | Center for Biological Diversity Updates | | |
The pressure to overconsume stuff is driving destructive resource extraction, pollution, and waste — all of which contribute to the climate and extinction crises. Libraries of things — or LoTs for short — are part of the sharing economy. They’re community spaces where useful items can be borrowed just like books that remain in circulation for years.
Last year the Center for Biological Diversity partnered with the University of North Florida to open its own LoT on campus. Drawing from that experience, our new how-to guide lays out how college and university campuses can all start LoTs!
Want to build one that’s not on a college campus? Check out Shareable’s Library of Things Toolkit
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On behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, 5 Gyres and Oceana, please support the Research for Environmental Uses and Sustainable Economies (REUSE) Act of 2025. Organizations across coalitions are invited to sign onto this letter that will be sent to all Senators (minus existing cosponsors) asking them to cosponsor the REUSE Act which would direct the EPA to conduct a feasibility study on reuse and refill systems in different sectors, such as consumer packaging, personal care products, and wholesale shipping of retail goods.
We would love to get 100 organizations from around the country signing on. It’s easy to add your support in this Congress by filling out this form by September 16, 2025, midnight Pacific. (Note: Please only sign on if you are an organization based in, or that operates in, the U.S.). Feel free to share this announcement with others.
Please feel free to reach out to Kelley Dennings at kdennings@biologicaldiversity.org with any questions. An individual sign on option will be coming soon.
| | Green Schools Alliance Free Webinar | |
VP3N July Partner of the Month
LRNow
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LRNow is a regular member of the VP3N and Plastic Bag Fee Workgroup, and is a valued partner in cleanups, action item input, and plastics advocacy campaiogns. We look forward to continuining work alongside trailblazer LRNow as our Virginia Beach neighbor!
LRNow is a grassroots nonprofit working for clean and healthy land and water across
Virginia Beach. We started with the Lynnhaven River and have since expanded to
include all of the city’s watersheds and more than 15,000 members. From removing
abandoned vessels to hosting monthly cleanups, distributing 10,000 reusable bags, and
promoting waste reduction through our Pearl Homes program, LRNow is tackling plastic
pollution at every level.
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Watch the Previous VP3N Meetings
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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.
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Reduce Plastic - September Tip of the Month
What Happens When You Drink from a Plastic Water Bottle Left in a Hot Car?
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Thanks to Glenda Booth for discovering this Washington Post article and sending it in. Read about this topic from the Washington Post, or from a non-paywall source that we found.
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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 (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!
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Please Support the
Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network
| Please consider a donation to support the VPPPN if you have found it to be valuable to you and your organization. We would appreciate your support of $10, $20 or more. Member organizations that donate $100 or more will have their logo and website link featured on the VPPPN website. | | | | |
