Arlington County is poised to adopt a new 20-year Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP). The new plan must be adopted by June 30, 2024 so we expect the County Board to advertise the updated plan at its May meeting and to adopt the new plan in June.

This gives citizens a rare opportunity to influence the future direction of waste reduction and recycling in Arlington.

ACTION ALERT



Send an email to the Arlington County Board asking them to commit to a more ambitious Zero Waste effort to reduce the climate impact of our waste stream

Arlington's School Board plays an essential role in setting school policy that promote academic excellence and the overall well-being of students, but it should also be a key driver to ensure that its facilities and operations align with County goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and promotes broad environmental sustainability and access to nature.

Arlingtonians, consistent with the national average, throw away almost 5 pounds of trash each day, representing a sizable impact on greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. While recycling and composting have their place, the best way to rein in our impact is by rethinking our purchasing habits and seeking out products that meet our needs while reducing the amount of packaging and single-use products.

"Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of our Future" by Daniel Lewis. This beautifully-written book explores nature and survival as seen via twelve trees that represent the challenges facing our planet. Lewis describes the unique features of each, the challenges they face as a result of climate changes and habitat destruction, and the efforts organizations, scientists and individuals are playing to protect them.