The mission of the Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network (VP3N) is to promote and facilitate coordination, collaboration, and communication among groups working to reduce plastic pollution throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. | | |
Welcome to the VP3N
Our Next Virtual Meeting is Tuesday, October 20
at 2:00 PM EST
Join Here
In this month's newsletter:
- VP3N Monthly Meeting October 20: Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Workgroup
CVW Events and Announcements:
- Plastic Bag Advocacy Workgroup
- Virginia Waterways Cleanup continues
VP3N Partner Events and Announcements
- Plastics Factsheets from P-SNAP
- Have you seen these signs?
- LRNow's ADV Removal Program
- KVB Love Where You Live
Sign-on Letters
- Virginia Bottle Bill Support Petition
Jobs and Internships
- Virginia Bottle Bill looking for volunteers
Monthly Highlights
- Plastic Message of the Month - Waste-Free Halloween
- Watch VP3N Recordings
Newsletter content is provided by VP3N members and partners
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VP3N Meeting - October 20
2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Workgroup
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Speaker: Will Isenberg
State Co-lead, Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Workgroup
Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: meet.google.com/bgq-gdtt-kcy
Or dial: (US) +1 620-878-0718 PIN: 528 875 567#
*Please contact Christina@cleanvirginiawaterways.org if you do not have the calendar invite and would like it.
| | The Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network is open to all members of the public, particularly for Virginia organizations working on issues related to plastic pollution including non-profits, educational facilities, businesses, trade industries, researchers and governmental agencies. | | Plastic Bag Fee Workgroup | | |
Clean Virginia Waterways runs a policy workgroup dedicated to helping more cities and counties pass ordinances to address single-use plastic grocery bag pollution. Meeting times are 10:30 - 11:30am on the first Wednesday of each month.
To learn more, follow this link and contact us to join!
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Virginia Waterways Cleanup Continues | | |
CVW would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to all of the groups who have participated in this year's Virginia Waterways Cleanup, part of the International Coastal Cleanup. There are still a few cleanups planned for October and November and we are working with groups throughout Virginia to plan more cleanups through the end of the year. If you are planning a cleanup or would like to plan a cleanup this year, please head over to our website and sign up at www.cleanvirginiawaterways.org/lead-a-cleanup.
One of the most important components of the Virginia Waterways Cleanup is the data collection using either the Clean Swell App or the ICC paper data card. All data is entered into the Ocean Conservancy's TIDES database and can be accessed by anyone.
Since August 15th, 965 volunteers have recorded 10,428 cigarette butts, 3473 food wrappers, 2562 plastic bottles, 1747 plastic bottle caps and 1262 plastic grocery bags. By collecting data, you give Virginians the opportunity to identify the most common litter types and advocate for change to reduce these items at the source.
We would like to thank the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund (Friend of the Chesapeake license plate), Keep Virginia Beautiful, Eaton and The Blocker Foundation for supporting this year's Virginia Waterways Cleanup.
| | Plastics Factsheets from P-SNAP | | The Physician and Scientist Network Addressing Plastics and Health (P-SNAP) is a national alliance of professionals taking action on the health harms of plastics, and they have amazing factsheets on macro- and microplastics and human health, and resources for consumers to navigate safe products on the market. Check them out below! | | Have You Seen These Signs in Virginia? | |
Calling all citizens concerned about litter; please be on the lookout for any official Virginia state issued “Don’t Litter” signs (with the fine and statute posted along with it)…supposedly there are 800 posted around the state - we haven’t noticed any, and we’re looking for where exactly they’re located - if you see one, and it’s convenient to photograph, please do so, and note the location, if it’s not convenient (or safe) to photograph, please note the location - let us know @ kbrownfred@gmail.com or text to 434-444-2753 (Karen Brown’s cell phone) . Thank you!
| | Lynnhaven River NOW - 78 Vessels Removed! | | |
Lynnhaven River NOW has removed 78 abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) from Virginia's waterways in partnership with NOAA and BoatUS Foundation. This ADV Removal Program supports the removal of up to 100 ADVs and also includes efforts to work with boaters and other stakeholders to prevent more vessels from becoming marine debris. ADVs can be reported through this BoatUS web page: https://mycoast.org/boatusfoundation.
Please watch LRNow's recently released video for more information on their great work.
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Love Where You Live!
Big change begins with everyday actions. During LOVE VA, individuals, families, schools, businesses, organizations, and communities across Virginia are invited to take part in activities that make their corner of the Commonwealth cleaner, greener, and more beautiful.
Use the Keep Virginia Beautiful Network to:
- Find or create a volunteer event
- Record cleanups, recycling, beautification, planting, and other activities
- Track volunteers and community impact
- Earn recognition and become eligible for prizes
Every activity counts—from picking up one neighborhood block to organizing a community-wide project. Already doing good work? Log it in the app and make your impact part of Virginia’s statewide story.
LOVE VA runs September 15–November 15, but you can use the KVB Network to organize and report activities all year long.
| | Virginia Bottle Bill Organization | | Our concern for the environment, frustration over Virginia’s poor recycling rates, and the production of ever-increasing mountains of single-use plastic and trash has spurred us to fight for change by asking our legislators for a "Bottle Bill" for Virginia. We need your help to drive awareness that this is both feasible and possible in the Commonwealth. Sign the petition now so we can send your elected officials an email and let them know that you support legislation to establish a beverage container deposit system to help reduce litter, increase recycling, reduce greenhouse gases and create jobs. | | | |
The Virginia Bottle Bill Organization is currently looking for volunteers and supporters to help with outreach, petition sharing, community education, and coalition-building ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
If you or your organization would like to get more involved, please contact Jaimi O'Keefe, Legislative Director, Virginia Bottle Bill Organization. jnokeefe.evr@gmail.com
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| Please Note: When viewing this newsletter, it can sometimes cut off around here in your browser. Please click "View Entire Message" at the bottom of your screen to continue reading. | | Halloween is upon us and so are the millions of tiny plastic-wrapped candies that will be handed out to trick or treaters this year, the plastic decorations and the single-use plastic costumes. Here are a few resources to share with your followers on reducing waste this Halloween! | | Watch Last Month's VP3N Meeting | | |
Clean Virginia Waterways maintains VP3N recordings on its YouTube page.
Follow the link to Clean Virginia Waterways' YouTube page for all available VP3N recordings. VP3N meetings will continue to be recorded and uploaded as they occur.
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The VP3N Monthly E-Newsletter Wants
YOUR INPUT!
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If you would like to have your upcoming event, resource, or publication mentioned in the monthly VP3N 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!
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Support the Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network | Please consider a donation to support the VP3N if you have found it to be valuable to you and your organization. We would appreciate your support of $10, $20 or more. A recurring donation to support Clean Virginia Waterways and the VP3N will assist with our operations costs, staff salaries as well as our work to communicate, collaborate and coordinate with you to prevent plastic pollution from entering Virginia's waterways. | | Clean Virginia Waterways is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. EIN 99-3105883. | | | | |
