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. | |
|
Welcome to the Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network (VPPPN). The newsletter will continue to come out monthly.
Meetings will occur bi-monthly - next meeting Feb.18th at 2 PM.
Watch December's VPPPN Meeting HERE.
In this edition:
- Virginia Marine Debris Summit: SPONSOR TODAY
-
Input for the 2021-2025 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP)
- Plastics in the General Assembly
- Microfiber Webinar
- Introducing the Marine Debris Foundation
- Upcoming Clean-Ups
- Reduce Plastic - Tip of the Month - Go See The Story of Plastic at the Naro Cinema on Feb.8th!
-
Boat US: Turning the Tide Virtual Summit: Register now
-
Meet CVW's New Education & Outreach Specialist - Emily Bodsford
- Virginia Green Travel Star Awards
- Support a Bottle Bill in Virginia
Newsletter content is provided by VPPPN members
| |
SPONSOR AND REGISTER TODAY -
Virginia Marine Debris Summit 2025
| |
|
Clean Virginia Waterways is seeking Whale sponsorships to support the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit (VMDS) to cover costs including Keynote speakers, scholarships for college students, after hours networking events, delicious food and more. We have Whale sponsorships from $1,000 - $10,000 and exhibitor packages (from $250-$500) with benefits including free registration, logo on our website and marketing materials, mentions during the Summit and more.
Please consider supporting this educational and informative event and share far and wide with other potential sponsors.
Contact Terra at Terra@CleanVirginiaWaterways.org for more information.
| |
Submit your Abstract for the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit
| |
|
Do you have a project that has led, or will lead, to a reduction of marine debris in Virginia and help us meet the goals of the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan? Please consider sharing your efforts with the participants of the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit, March 18-20, at the Norfolk Botanical Garden! Submit your abstract today!
Abstracts that are accepted will be included in a "Speed Round" of 9 minute presentations. All presentations must be related to one or more of the four goals of the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan.
-
Goal 1: Understand, Prevent, and Mitigate the Impacts of Consumer Debris and Single-use Plastics
-
Goal 2: Understand, Prevent, and Mitigate the Impacts of Derelict Fishing Gear
-
Goal 3: Understand, Prevent, and Mitigate the Impacts of Microplastics and Microfibers
-
Goal 4: Prevent and Mitigate the Contributions of Abandoned and Derelict Vessels
Abstracts are due no later than February 14, 2025. Presenters will be notified of their acceptance by February 21, 2025.
| |
Scholarship Application
2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit
| |
|
The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, and Clean Virginia Waterways invite college students to apply for scholarships to attend the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit in Virginia Beach on March 18-20th at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.
Up to 20 scholarships covering the registration costs for the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit will be awarded to full-time college students. Recipients will be recognized at the conference.
Application Deadline: This is a rolling deadline, but students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Applications received before February 14th will be reviewed by February 21st, and scholarship winners will be notified by February 28th. If any scholarships are still available, then applications will be reviewed again on March 7th and 14th.
.
| |
|
Please follow the links below to let us know about work you have completed, projects in the works, accomplishments and challenges. We will be using this information to help us prepare for the upcoming Virginia Marine Debris Summit as well as to inform the update to the VMDRP for 2026-2030 later this year. Any input you have would be greatly appreciated, especially if you could get it back to us by January 24th.
Please find the survey links below. It is only necessary to respond to the surveys for the goals that you have been involved in, even if you didn't sign up when the 2021-2025 VMDRP was published. If you have any questions, please contact Christina at Christina@CleanVirginiaWaterways.org.
Goal #1 -- Consumer Debris
Goal #2 -- Derelict Fishing Gear
Goal #3 -- Microplastics and Microfibers
Goal #4 -- Abandoned and Derelict Vessels
Thank you for your help and we hope to see you at the Summit!
| |
What is happening with Plastics in the VA General Assembly | |
|
There have been a few plastic related bills introduced this year. The bills include a study to improve Virginia's litter tax, a tire stewardship program, microplastics, and plastic bags. There's also a budget amendment that could delay the start date for the expanded polystyrene food and beverage container phase out. You can stay up to date with plastic legislation with Litter Free Virginia.
For detailed information about the expanded polystyrene food and beverage phase out and plastic pellet legislation visit the Environment Virginia website.
| |
Microfiber Webinar - January 27th | |
|
The Marine Debris Working Group is hosting a Microfiber Webinar Scheduled for January 27th from 1:00 - 2:15PM EST.
We’ve posted the event to MARCO’s social media (thanks, Meghan!) and will also include it in our newsletter, going out next week. For more details, including speakers and topics, you can reference the Marine Debris Work Group page.
Please share these materials with your networks, and don’t forget to register yourself! Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
| |
Introducing the Marine Debris Foundation | |
|
Recognizing the value of public-private partnerships in addressing issues that require a systems approach, Congress established the Marine Debris Foundation (MDF) in 2020 via the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, to serve as the charitable, nonprofit partner to NOAA’s Marine Debris Program.
MDF was designed to expand the depth and breadth of NOAA’s marine debris work through grantmaking, partnerships and advocacy. MDF’s Board of Directors was appointed in 2022 and the organization hired its first executive director, Susan Sherman (a Virginia resident) at the end of 2023. To date, MDF has issued grants supporting 23 programs and organizations in the U.S. and internationally. MDF relies on state and regional marine debris action plans to guide its grantmaking and looks forward to helping advance goals laid out in Virginia’s Marine Debris Reduction Plan. You can learn more about MDF on their website and on social media (Insta, Facebook and LinkedIn).
| |
|
UPCOMING CLEAN-UPS
Join CBF and LRNow on
MLK DAY & FEB 8th
| |
Last year LRNow cleaned 23,449 lbs of waste from our waterways! Please join their efforts at our next cleanup is February 8, 2025 from 9-12 at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Volunteers are invited to view the Duke Riley exhibit after the cleanup. All information on our waterway cleanups and registration details are on the LRNow website: | |
Reduce Plastic - Tip of the Month
Go See The Story of Plastic at the Naro Cinema in Norfolk on Feb.8th!
| |
|
The Story of Plastic is a searing exposé revealing the ugly truth behind plastic pollution and the false solution of plastic recycling. Different from every other plastic documentary you’ve seen, The Story of Plastic presents a cohesive timeline of how we got to our current global plastic pollution crisis and how the oil and gas industry has successfully manipulated the narrative around it. From the extraction of fossil fuels and plastic disposal to the global resistance fighting back, The Story of Plastic is a life-changing, Emmy-winning film depicting one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. A discussion with local experts will follow.
Please register here for the Movie, seating is limited
| |
|
Turning the Tide Online Summit
February 25 - 27, 2025
| |
Turning the Tide Online is a three-day virtual summit hosted by the BoatUS Foundation centered on exploring existing and emerging technologies and best practices. | |
Welcome CVW's New Education & Outreach Specialist - Emily Bodsford
| |
| |  | Emily Bodsford is excited to join the Clean Virginia Waterways Team as the Environmental and Outreach Specialist. With over a decade of experience in community engagement, sustainability, and environmental education, she is passionate about advancing CVW's mission. Emily earned her degree in Environmental and Health Sciences from Old Dominion University in 2015 and has since led impactful initiatives, including citizen science water quality monitoring, marine debris reduction campaigns, volunteer programs, and conservation advocacy efforts. Emily’s journey in environmental stewardship began immediately after graduation at the Brock Environmental Center, where she started working with Lynnhaven River NOW, a local environmental organization. In 2022, she took on the role of Communications Specialist for the Virginia Oyster Trail, where she continues to serve on their Board of Directors. Along the way, Emily has cultivated strong community partnerships, developed innovative educational programs, and advocated for sustainable practices. Emily joins CVW with a passion for inspiring environmental stewardship, fostering collaboration, and driving conservation efforts to protect and restore Virginia's waterways for a cleaner, healthier future.
You can contact Emily at Emily@CleanVirginiaWaterways.org.
| |
Virginia Green Travel Star Awards | |
|
Virginia Green Travel Star Awards recognize the efforts of participants of Virginia Green. Since 2011, Virginia Green has recognized hundreds of Travel Stars and Travel Leaders for their commitments to sustainability and contributions to green tourism in Virginia. The application period for the 2025 Virginia Green Travel Star Awards is now open. Once completed, send the application and any supporting documentation to VirginiaGreen@deq.virginia.gov.
Awards will be presented at the
12th Annual Virginia Green Travel Conference & Awards Ceremony
March 20-21, 2025 at Busch-Gardens!
Award applications are due January 21, 2025.
Applying for an award is easy &
the application and details are all found HERE.
| |
The Virginia Marine Debris Summit will be a Fully Certified Virginia Green Event! | |
|
Click here to sign:
Support Virginia’s Bottle Bill
Together, we can make a difference. Let’s show our legislators that Virginians demand change!
Help Reduce Litter in Virginia – Sign the Petition for a Bottle Bill!
Virginia needs a bottle bill, and we need your voice to make it happen! Beverage containers make up 71% of roadside litter and are a major source of marine pollution. Current curbside recycling systems recover only 18% of single-use beverage containers, but bottle bills can recycle up to 90% while reducing litter by up to 84%.
Passing a bottle bill isn’t just about cleaning up our environment—it’s about creating opportunities. Virginia could generate 1,000 new jobs, many in rural areas, without a single dollar of government spending. Meanwhile, we’d save 400,000 tons of materials from landfills and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.
Take action now! Sign the petition to show your support for cleaner streets, healthier waterways, and sustainable recycling. It’s quick and easy—when you sign, we’ll send an email to your elected officials on your behalf.
| |
|
The VPPPN monthly eNewsletter wants
YOUR INPUT!
| |
|
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!
| |
|
Support the
Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network
| 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. | | | | |
