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. | |
|
November 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, December 17th at 2 pm using Google Meet.
In this edition:
- Virginia Marine Debris Summit: Save the Date!
- A Plastic-Free Farmers Market Toolkit
- Boat US: Turning the Tide Virtual Summit Call for Presentations
- DEQ's Annual Report: PFAS Assessment
- EPA Publishes National Strategy
- Governor's Environmental Excellence Award
- Simplify the Holidays
- CBF's General Assembly Preview
- Reduce Plastic Tip of the Month
- CVW is Hiring
*Note: meetings will be done using the Google Meet platform. Please email us if you need assistance getting set-up*
Newsletter content is provided by VPPPN members.
| |
December 17 VPPPN Meeting
A Plastic-Free Farmers Market Toolkit
| |
Guest Speakers, Jen, Vanessa and Elli of Clean Fairfax, will discuss the recent publication of a Plastic-Free Farmers Market Toolkit and the successes and challenges so far! | |
You DON'T Want to MISS THIS!
Virginia Marine Debris Summit 2025
| |
Save the date for the 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit, March 18-20 at the Norfolk Botanical Garden! We will be discussing all aspects of the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan as we begin the process of updating the plan for 2026-2030. Join us for informative talks, networking opportunities and keynote speakers, Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics and Bonnie Monteleone of Plastic Ocean Project. Sign up below for summit updates, exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities. | |
A Plastic-Free Farmers Market Toolkit
by Clean Fairfax
| |
Photo by Lori Golding Zontini, Old Beach Farmers Market, Virginia Beach. | |
Clean Fairfax has published a Plastic-Free Farmers Market Toolkit on our partner website, Litter Free Virginia. There are several pages of information that you can navigate through on the website. We also produced a downloadable .pdf document and a one-page summary (in English and Spanish), which are posted online and also attached here. The Plastic-Free Toolkit is a compilation of the best policies and practices for phasing out single-use plastic bags at the farmers market. It's aimed at both market managers and vendors, but is also intended as a resource for anyone in the plastic pollution prevention advocacy space. | | |
Save the Date: Boat U.S. Foundation Virtual Summit - Feb. 25-27, 2025 | |
|
Turning the Tide Online will be a three-day virtual summit centered on exploring existing and emerging technologies and best practices for responsible and sustainable disposal of boating-related waste streams.
Topics will include fiberglass and shrinkwrap, as well as pyrotechnic flares, fishing gear and debris caught in “trash interceptors” – culvert gates and floating trash receptacles that trap both recyclable and degraded plastics and marine debris.
Attendees include individuals, academics, organizations and industry and business leaders. If you believe you/your organization would be a great fit for our virtual summit and invite you to submit a proposal today! Presentations can be individual talks, panel discussions or infographic/poster display. Deadline to submit proposal ideas is December 10, 2024.
| |
DEQ'S 2024 Annual Report Now Available: PFAS Assessment And Source Reductions Activities | |
EPA Publishes National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution | |
|
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just announced the publication of the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution: Part Three in a Series on Building a Circular Economy for All! In the strategy, EPA identifies actions that businesses; academia; industry; nongovernmental organizations; federal, Tribal, state, local and territorial governments; and consumers can take in the United States to eliminate the release of plastic waste into the environment, including our waterways and the ocean. EPA also outlines interventions across the entire plastic life cycle to reduce the U.S. contribution to plastic pollution, including actions that stakeholders safeguarding water resources can help implement.
Please share the announcement with your networks as appropriate. Read EPA’s Press Release announcing the strategy.
| |
Apply for the 2025 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards | |
|
Has your facility been working to reduce its environmental footprint? Do you have a stellar sustainability initiative? Did you develop an innovative strategy that benefited the environment? Consider applying for the 2025 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards. The awards acknowledge successful and innovative programs and projects throughout Virginia in the following categories:
Applications are due Dec. 12.
| | |
|
In November 2021, Kelley Dennings of Center for Biological Diversity gave a presentation about their Simplify the Holidays Campaign. "The campaign is totally customizable for any community, team or project. We’ve created sustainable gift guides, tips on how to start a conversation about alternative gift-giving, and resources for transforming holidays from a period of stress and shopping to a time of joy, connection and tradition. Feel free to use our material in newsletters, radio and TV ads, waste guides, podcasts, blog posts, presentations or community events."
Since then, several updates have been posted to the website including a new local government resolution and Secondhand Sunday social media toolkit. Check out the Simplify the Holidays website for more information.
| |
The 2025 Marine Debris Calendar Is Now Available! | |
|
The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2025 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download!
The annual art contest aims to get students thinking about how marine debris impacts our ocean and Great Lakes, and what they can do to help. This year’s calendar features artwork from 13 students in kindergarten through eighth grade from eight states and two U.S. territories, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.
| | |
CBF's General Assembly Preview | |
|
The 2025 Virginia General Assembly is approaching quickly. Join Chesapeake Bay Foundation for the following events as part of your advocacy preparations.
· VA General Assembly Preview Webinar | Virtual | Wednesday, December 18 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm | Join us for a webinar hosted by Jay Ford, CBF’s Virginia Policy Manager, who will provide an overview of what CBF will be working on during the 2025 general assembly session. Register: events.cbf.org/2025gapreview
· VA General Assembly Legislative Preview | In-person at Brock Environmental Center | Thursday, January 9 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm | Jay Ford, our Virginia Policy Advisor, will be reviewing key issues on clean water, covering topics from environmental education and oysters to menhaden and wetlands. This is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your understanding and become an expert advocate for the Bay topics you are passionate about. Register: events.cbf.org/va-leg-preview-010925
| | |
|
· Water Lobby Day | Tuesday, Jan 14, 2025 | Water Lobby Day is your chance to lobby with fellow advocates and meet with your legislators at the General Assembly. We need advocates like you, now more than ever, to help advance policies that benefit clean water and meet Chesapeake Bay restoration goals. Prior to Lobby Day, we will host a Zoom call to discuss active legislation and budget requests, provide you with fact sheets, provide lobbying tips and best practices, and answer any questions you may have to ensure you feel completely comfortable. | Register: events.cbf.org/waterlobbyday | |
Reduce Plastic - Tip of the Month | |
|
And don't forget your reusable produce and shopping bags!
Thank you for all you do to keep plastic pollution out of our environment!
Happy Thanksgiving from Clean Virginia Waterways!
| |
Clean Virginia Waterways is looking or a part-time Education & Outreach Specialist. If you love talking and educating about marine debris and plastic pollution prevention, please visit our website for more information. | |
|
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. On this upcoming Giving Tuesday, 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. | | | | |
