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. | |
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August 2024
Welcome to the Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network (VPPPN). The newsletter will continue to come out monthly. Meetings will occur bi-monthly. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, August 20 at 2pm using Google Meet.
In this edition:
- Special speaker: Tom Tylek from RanMarine will talk about trash interception devices and how they can aide in data collection
- Fairfax County looking to achieve zero waste by 2040
- International Plastics Summit meets in India
- October 5 - Friends of the Occoquan Fall River Clean Up
- Tips for Back to School with Zero Waste
- Bottle Bill Support Request
- Hiring: Rockbridge Conservation
- NOAA Marine Debris Removal Grants now Available
- Register for the International Coastal Clean-Up
- Reduce Plastic Tip of the Month
*Note: meetings will be done using the Google Meet platform. Please email us if you need assistance getting set-up*
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August Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Meeting Special Guest:
Tom Tylek from RanMarine
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Meetings will take place every other month. All future meetings will take place on the Google Meets platform. A special speaker, Tom Tylek from RanMarine will talk about trash interception devices and how they can aide in data collection at the August 20 meeting.
RanMarine Technology is at the forefront of aquatic innovation, dedicated to improving water quality and reducing pollution through advanced, sustainable solutions. Their flagship product, the WasteShark, is an autonomous water surface drone designed to collect floating debris, plastic waste, and biomass from various water environments, including marinas, ports, canals, and harbors.
Tom oversees sales and business development in the US for RanMarine Technology, focusing on introducing their cutting-edge technology to organizations and government bodies. He presents the WasteShark as a viable solution for removing floating debris and plastic from waterways.
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HAPPENING TONIGHT: The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program is hosting a Community Open Forum to collect input from Virginians to help shape the first "Virginia Ocean Plan". | |
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Topics that may be discussed include:
Fishing & Aquaculture
Cultural & Historic Resources & Non-consumptive Recreation
Seafloor Resources
Energy & Infrastructure
Sustainability & Conservation
Transportation Navigation & Security
Where: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, 717 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Google Map link. Free parking!
When: August 15, 2024 from 6:30 PM-9:30 PM. Attendees can come at any point during that time frame.
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Now accepting registrations for the
INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEAN-UP
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While CVW encourages YEAR ROUND cleanup events (and data collection!), most of the International Coastal Cleanup events are held between August and December.
Plan a cleanup -- anytime! Remember, collecting data during your cleanup DOUBLES your impact, and it is EASY to do!
1. Find an area that has litter -- and pull a team together!
2. Read about how to lead a litter cleanup in Virginia HERE. Download a handbook, data cards and more from CVW's on-line Site Captain Tool Kit
3. Sign up by using this Google form. If you can't use Google, please send an email to cleanups@cleanvirginiawaterways.org
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Fairfax County seeks feedback on strategies for achieving zero waste by 2040 | |
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Fairfax County is seeking feedback on its current solid waste management practices and strategies for achieving “zero waste.”
Open from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, the survey asks residents to share their opinions on how the county handles solid waste and possible ways it could divert 90% of trash from landfills and incineration. Participants have the chance to win a $100 gift card.
According to a press release from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, the county currently recycles or composts only about half of the 23,000 tons of waste produced by residents each week. The rest is taken to landfills or incinerated — a practice that the county wants to minimize.
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Urban Ocean Brings Together Partners for Summit in Chennai, India
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Thanks to funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Ocean Conservancy and its partners hosted the Urban Ocean Summit in Chennai, India
This summit in Chennai was the first opportunity since the program began to gather Urban Ocean partners in-person, including over 60 representatives from cities, academia, civil society, and the private sector to share knowledge, and create potential funding and collaboration opportunities to support cities in their journey to reduce plastic pollution in their communities.
Cities across the globe were able to learn from one another through knowledge exchange sessions and had the opportunity to present on projects they are advancing to reduce plastic pollution and address gaps in their waste management systems.
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Friends of the Occoquan
Fall River Clean Up 2024
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Saturday, October 5, 2024
9 AM to 12 PM
At one of these 5 locations:
Lake Ridge Marina
Contact: Renate Vanegas 703-674-6659
Town of Occoquan
Contact: Julie Little 703-491-2168
Occoquan Regional Park
Contact: Alex Vanegas 703-674-7847
Fountainhead Regional Park
Contact: Sonia Monson 703-581-5487
Bull Run Marina
Contact: German Vanegas 703-624-7124
Preregistration Recommended
How do I sign up?
Select a location from above and email (foto@friendsoftheoccoquan.org) the required information listed below:
1. Location/Time you plan to sign in
2. First and last names of the volunteers in your group
3. Contact number and email address
4. Do you need a community service letter? Please include your name and mailing address.
Refreshments will be provided!
Please wear sturdy shoes and proper attire for getting muddy.
In case of inclement weather please check the FOTO website or Facebook page for updates.
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Zero Waste Back to School Preparation | |
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There can be a lot of waste associated with back to school shopping in the form of single-use plastic and packaging materials that can ultimately end up in our ocean and Great Lakes.
NOAA Marine Debris Program has resources for both students and educators to prepare for the school year ahead.
Our online resources are a zero waste must-have for this back to school season!
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Support Request to
Help Make the Bottle Bill Happen
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The Virginia Bottle Bill Organization would like to know if any municipalities would be willing to back the general idea of a bottle bill for Virginia. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will back the idea, but we need more government support. If you have any suggestions on specific people to contact, please let us know.
There are about 250 paragraphs in the bill I am copying from Oregon and Washington State. Each one will have to be argued over for several years. However, it would greatly help our chances of getting it introduced if we could say we had the support of 10 municipalities (with beach litter problems?) for the general idea. If we can’t get it introduced, we can’t argue over it.
Rick Galliher
President, VA Bottle Bill Org and
Board Member and Solid Waste & Recycling Team Lead for FACS - Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions.
Sign the Petition - Help Make It Happen VABottleBill.org
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Job Opening: Rockbridge Conservation in Lexington, VA has a job opening for a
part-time Executive Director
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Rockbridge Conservation (RC), formerly known as Rockbridge Area Conservation Council (RACC), is seeking a part-time Executive Director to manage the operation of the area’s oldest volunteer driven environmental nonprofit organization.
The Executive Director provides professional guidance and management of Rockbridge Conservation in support of its mission “to promote and enhance the protection, sustainable use, and stewardship of our community’s natural resources.” Primarily this involves coordinating the efforts of several volunteer committees that conduct the work of the group.The ED works cooperatively with RC’s Board of Directors, volunteer committees, and general membership to ensure strong programming and implement mission-specific initiatives.
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Two Grant Opportunities Now Open: FY25 Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
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NOAA will award up to $54 million across two competitions to support impactful, large marine debris removal projects, as well as the installation of proven marine debris interception technologies, throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, United States territories, and Freely Associated States.
The Marine Debris Program will host an applicant webinar for each competition providing an overview of the process and materials required for submitting an LOI. The webinar schedule is as follows:
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Fiscal Year 2025 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent due on September 27, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and an applicant webinar will be offered on August 07, 2024 at 3:00pm Eastern Time. Register for the webinar.
- Fiscal Year 2025 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent due on October 09, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and an applicant webinar will be offered on August 14, 2024 at 3:00pm Eastern Time.
Register for the webinar.
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Reduce Plastic - Tip of the Month | |
School and office supplies are readily available. Shop with intent. Avoid plastic where possible. | | |
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The VPPPN monthly eNewsletter 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.
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!
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.
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Support the
Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network
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As our network grows, so do our expenses. Please consider a donation to support the VPPPN if you have found it to be valuable to you. We would appreciate your support of $10, $20 or more. Member organizations that donate $100 or more will have the opportunity to add their logo and website link to our website.
We are in the process of reclassifying and are unable to process credit card donations at this time. Please send an email to virginiapppn@gmail.com if you would like to make a donation.
THANK YOU!
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