The mission of the Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network (VPPPN) is to promote and facilitate coordination, collaboration, and communication among groups working to reduce plastic pollution throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

June 2024

Welcome to the VP3N

Our Next Meeting is Tuesday, June 17th at 2PM

In this edition:

• Monthly Meeting in June - A Collaborative Approach to Implementing the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP) by Joseph Barnes
• New VP3N Members, Join VP3N
• Wild Virginia's Fall 2025 Clean Water Advocates program
• Coming Full Circle- Clean Virginia Waterways Releases New Report Examining the Future of Recycling-Refund Programs to Reduce Solid Waste
• Join our Monthly Virginia Plastic Bag Tax Call
• International Coastal Cleanup Information
• VP3N June Partner of the Month - Elly Wilson & Environment America
• VEEP Piedmont Region Workshop
• World Sea Turtle Day is next week!
• CVC's Rethink, Reuse Repair Fair
• Reduce Plastic - June Tip of the Month - Reuse and Repurpose Beach Toys



*Newsletter content is provided by VPPPN members

VP3N Meeting - June 17th from 2-3 PM

A Collaborative Approach to Implementing the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP)

Join us to learn more about the Collaborative Approach to Implementing the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP).

Joseph Barnes is the marine debris project coordinator at Old Dominion University. He works on initiatives to prevent, mitigate, and understand marine debris issues in Virginia through coalition-building, community outreach, and youth education. Joseph coordinates multi-sectoral efforts to ensure that nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, and academic institutions have the capacity to work together and draw on each other’s expertise. Joseph’s background in marine debris started with microplastic research at American University, and now includes macro problems like abandoned vessel and derelict fishing gear removal.

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: meet.google.com/rfr-tygg-fry

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 620-878-0718‬ PIN: ‪528 875 567‬#

NEW VIRGINIA PLASTIC POLLUTION PREVENTION NETWORK MEMBERS

• RanMarine Technology
• Waterkeepers Chesapeake
• Aspect Enterprises
• Virginia Clean Cities
• Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action (VCCA)
• RWD

JOIN THE VP3N

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.

Wild Virginia's Fall 2025

Clean Water Advocates program

This is a FREE online education program to equip and empower individuals, communities, and organizations to protect Virginia's water quality. We use lectures, class discussion, and skills workshops to teach Advocates fundamental knowledge of federal and state water protection laws, regulatory processes, and basic advocacy skills. Learn more about the program here.

Applications close Friday, June 27 at 11:59pm. Apply today!

Please share this education opportunity with your networks. Thank you!

COMING FULL CIRCLE

Clean Virginia Waterways Releases New Report Examining the Future of Recycling-Refund Programs to Reduce Solid Waste

Clean Virginia Waterways (CVW) has released a detailed research and policy report: Coming Full Circle: The Past and Proposed Future Impact of Recycling-Refunds on Reducing Mismanaged Solid Waste in the 21st Century. The comprehensive report explores how deposit-refund systems, often referred to as "bottle bills," have historically reduced litter and waste, and examines how modern recycling-refund programs could dramatically cut plastic pollution and mismanaged solid waste in Virginia and across the United States.

As communities and policymakers search for effective strategies to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste, the CVW report offers timely insights. Drawing on decades of research, case studies, and expert analysis, Coming Full Circle documents the success of existing recycling-refund programs in the U.S., while outlining policy recommendations tailored for 21st-century challenges.

“Mismanaged solid waste is a persistent problem in our environment, waterways, and communities," said Zach Huntington, Marine Debris Strategy Director at Clean Virginia Waterways. “This report demonstrates that recycling-refund programs not only work—they are one of the most effective tools available for preventing bottles, cans, and other containers from becoming litter or ending up in landfills.”

The report highlights:

• The history and proven effectiveness of recycling-refund systems in reducing litter.
• Economic and environmental benefits for states that have adopted deposit-refund legislation.
• The potential for modernized systems that incorporate technological innovations and expanded materials.
• Policy recommendations for Virginia lawmakers to consider as they address growing concerns over plastic pollution and waste management.

Clean Virginia Waterways hopes thIs report will inform ongoing conversations among legislators, businesses, non-profits, and citizens as Virginia and other states consider policy solutions to reduce waste, protect natural resources, and foster a circular economy.

The full report is available HERE.

Clean Virginia Waterways is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving Virginia's waterways through research, education, and citizen engagement. CVW works collaboratively with partners to address the growing challenges of marine debris and plastic pollution.

Join our Monthly Virginia Plastic Bag Tax Call

When: July 2nd at 10:30 (first Wed of each month)

Where: Google Meet

What: VP3N has started a monthly plastic bag tax call for our members. Our first call was the first Wednesday of June. If you would like to be added to the email list for this call, please email terra@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, or 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.

International Coastal Cleanup Information

Stay tuned for the Clean Virginia Waterways International Coastal Cleanup 2025 Toolkit for Virginia Site Captains in our next E-Newsletter. In the meantime, check out the one-stop-shop for ICC and cleanup resources: 2025 Coordinator Toolkit   As the year progresses we will notify you as new items are added.

2025 ICC Artwork- The 40th Anniversary artwork design is ready to use! You can find multiple options, in English and Spanish, within the Coordinator Toolkit here: 40th Anniversary ICC Artwork

VP3N June Partner of the Month -

Elly Wilson Boehmer &

Environment America

Environment Virginia's Article: Richmond passes 5 cent plastic bag fee

Richmond becomes the 11th locality in Virginia to adopt a fee on plastic bags

Richmond city council voted on Monday, June 2nd to put a 5 cent fee on plastic bags. The ordinance will go into effect January 1st, 2026. Richmond is the 11th locality in Virginia adopt the bag fee. The authority to implement the fee was granted to localities in the 2021 General Assembly.

Elly Wilson was instrumental in helping to make this bag tax in Richmond happen. Elly Wilson is the State Director of Environment Virginia. She leads Environment Virginia in their work to protect our air, water and special places. Having previously worked on Bottle Bill legislation in Vermont while in college and zero waste game days for the University of Tennessee, Elly has developed a particular interest in waste issues and has been bringing this experience to Virginia by launching Environment Virginia's Wildlife Over Waste program. The impending ban on expanded polystyrene food and beverage containers is a direct result of Elly's leadership and dedication.

VEEP Piedmont Region Workshop

World Sea Turtle Day is next week!

Join the AZA Sea Turtle SAFE Program to celebrate over 110 million years of sea turtle history and conservation with two exciting opportunities to explore and share:

 Live Webinar: Conservation in Action

• Join Callie Veelenturf of The Leatherback Project as she shares four real-world case studies using sea turtle science to drive conservation across Latin America.
•  Monday, June 16 |  12–1 PM ET
•  Register here: Webinar Link

World Sea Turtle Day Toolkit

• Help spread awareness with the ready-to-share content:
•  Social media posts
•  Worksheets & educational activities
•  Key sea turtle facts
• Download the PDF
• View on Canva

Clean Valley Council's 2nd Annual

Rethink, Reuse, Repair Fair

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Wasena Park

Tap into the ingenuity of vendors who breathe new life into old, outdated, or broken materials at the second annual Rethink, Reuse, Repair Fair on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Wasena Park. This is a family- and pet-friendly event.

Before you throw an object away... rethink, reuse, repair! Repair Fair vendors will teach you how!​

Vendors will help visitors repair materials onsite or provide the contacts and resources for future repair services. There also will be workshops and demonstrations for people to learn how to repair and upcycle things on their own. 

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Connect with people and businesses who specialize in repairing and reusing objects. Extending the lifespans of our possessions reduces waste as well as environmental impacts.

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Additional attractions include food/drink trucks and a Kids Tent with Makedo cardboard construction materials.

The Rescue Mission will be hosting a Take It or Leave It Tent. Please follow their guidelines for donating clothing and household items. The link to the guidelines is under "Residential Pickup."

Reduce Plastic - June Tip of the Month

Reuse and Repurpose Beach Toys

The Keep it Beach Clean Beach Toy Libraries are finally on the boardwalk and Chic's Beach! Leave a toy or take a toy and reduce the number of plastic toys littering our beaches and waterways.

A big thank you to the amazing volunteers who came out last night to beautify the boxes with their amazing artwork. It takes a village to keep our waterways clean!

If you find any toys on the beach, please place them in the boxes for reuse. Or check out www.keepitbeachyclean.org/beach-toy-recycling for library and toy drop-off locations.



Thanks for keeping it Beachy Clean!

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!

The Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network is a Program of Clean Virginia Waterways, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and

Eco Maniac Company.