The EcoAdvocate May Update

The email that went out earlier had broken links to the candidates responses. It should be fixed now. Thank you to everyone who let us know!

Sincerely,

Michele Bianchi

Communications Coordinator

County residents will be voting for a new County Board member in November to replace Libby Garvey who is retiring after 12 years on the Board. Check out the positions on the climate crisis and other environmental issues of the candidates running in the Democratic Primary before voting. Early voting is already underway for the June 18 primary. It’s also not too late to let County Board members know that you support an ambitious Zero Waste Plan, emphasizing reduce and reuse strategies as well as better recycling.

Elections Matter graphic of voters lined up to vote in the foreground in the background voters are voting behind white cardboard privace screens labeled "vote" an American Flag hangs on the wall

Elections Matter: Vote in the Democratic Primary for County Board Candidates

On June 18, Arlington Democrats will choose their candidate to run for County Board member (early voting is already underway). With the climate crisis one of the most pressing issues the County Board must address in coming years, EcoAction Arlington and Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions asked the candidates to answer questions on how they would address climate and other environmental challenges.

Read Their Responses

Still Time to Weigh In for a Stronger County Zero Waste Plan

The Arlington County Board is set to finalize and approve the County’s Solid Waste Management Plan/Zero Waste Plan at its June 15 meeting. As we mentioned last month, while the plan has many good initiatives, it settles for modest improvements rather than making changes that could substantially reduce the negative environmental impact of Arlington’s solid waste. Ask the County Board to strengthen the plan by:

Prioritizing waste reduction over recycling right to directly address the harmful impacts of our waste stream
Ensuring that the Arlington Government is leading by example with its own strong policies to avoid discarding valuable resources
Tracking how much construction and demolition waste is generated in Arlington which is not currently tracked by the County, as much of this waste could be avoided

ACTION ALERT

If you haven’t done so already, let the County Board know that you want the County to commit to a more ambitious Zero Waste effort to reduce the climate impact of our waste stream by sending an email to countyboard@arlingtonva.us.

What You Can Do green and blue background hands holding up a globe with trees and seedlings in the foreground and a cloud in the background

What You Can Do: DIY Mosquito Traps

Want to control annoying mosquitoes without harming pollinators and other beneficial insects? DIY mosquito traps are easy and inexpensive and work by targeting mosquito larvae rather than the adult mosquito. All you need are a bucket, water, some straw or leaves, and a Mosquito Dunk.

What We're Listening To

Is it time to stop eating beef? Is my lawn bad for the environment? And what actually happens to the plastic bottles I throw in the recycling bin? How to Save a Planet, hosted by marine biologist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and journalist Alex Blumberg, helps listeners understand the basics of climate change and solutions that could help shape a better future for everyone.

The EcoAdvocate is compiled by the EcoAction Arlington Advocacy Committee

EcoAction Arlington | Elenor Hodges, Executive Director | 703-228-6427 | office@ecoactionarlington.org | ecoactionarlington.org

Support EcoAction Arlington

EcoAction Arlington's mission is to educate, advocate, and act to create a sustainable community by improving our natural environment, encouraging environmentally-friendly behaviors, ensuring environmental justice, and addressing the climate crisis.The EcoAction Advocacy Committee engages in public discussion and promotes civic engagement among its members to influence government action to support its mission. EcoAction Arlington is a non-profit and non-partisan organization.

View this email in your browser