Waste Reduction

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America Recycles Day 2019

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We frequently preach the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The less litter we create, you see, the less litter ends up on our roadways and scenic places.

It’s simple – don’t make trash.

Since there are some things that must be thrown away, we always encourage that last R: Recycle. But some localities are beginning to have a problem with that. As more and more folks embrace the importance of litter prevention and waste reduction, those tasked with processing our recycling are beginning to weigh the cost/benefit of curbside recycling programs.

Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality recently reported that we’re doing a bang-up job of recycling things. The rate of recycling in the Commonwealth rose from 42% to 46% over the last year. The largest curbside recycling firm in our region is Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, and in 2018 they processed over 651,000 tons of material!

On November 15th of each year, we follow the lead of our parent organization, Keep America Beautiful, and put a spotlight on this issue with America Recycles Day. As we have for several years, we joined our friends at the Retail Merchants Association in Richmond for a convenient drive-through recycling event. Folks could reduce their household clutter, donate goods and clothing to be reused, and recycle materials to keep them out of a landfill somewhere. In addition to paper shredding, we processed 250 pounds of clothing, and 3,200 pounds of various electronics. This included computers, laptops, television sets, and more.

And we weren’t alone.

Across town in Powhatan, an event at Goodwill braved colder temperatures to take in 5,200 pounds of electronics, a lot of cardboard, 3,500 pounds of textiles, and 1,800 pounds of furniture. Several truckloads of those materials went to Habitat for Humanity.

We won’t recycle our way out of our litter problem, but numbers like these tell the powers-that-be that we’re not stopping anytime soon.

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People are a Cash Crop for Virginia

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It’s not what you think: we’re not talking about growing and harvesting people.

Virginia’s economy is driven by a number of factors. Long a magnet for tobacco farmers, agriculture remains a key factor in our economy. Northern Virginia, once our dairy capital, now hosts giant technology firms and defense contractors. Work for the federal government, in fact, has a huge impact. Virginia has the highest defense spending per capita of any state in America.

But when you look at Northern Virginia, you often ignore what else happens there: Wineries. People travel to Virginia to visit wineries – from Stafford to the Route 5 Corridor, along the Northern Neck and nestled against the Blue Ridge Mountains. And when we mention agriculture, we would be remiss to ignore the $11 million pumpkins brought to Virginia in 2018. We shipped pumpkins around the world, and folks from Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and further visited Virginia to pick their own gourd.

We shared an article recently about the loss of coal jobs in Southwest Virginia. That’s been horrible for their economy. But a booming new economy is growing around those who’ve long known that areas like Tazwell, the Roanoke River Gorge, and Catawba offer some of the best rock climbing around.

Virginia has it all when it comes to tourism. One could spend the morning surfing in Virginia Beach, bike the Capital Trail into Richmond, and spend the afternoon rock climbing somewhere along Skyline Drive. When people come to Virginia so kayak and hike, to ski and sail, they spend money. They stop for gas. They stock up on supplies at our local markets. They take a break for a meal in your local restaurant. The rent the equipment they need and buy the equipment they don’t have.

Tourism in Virginia generated $26 billion in visitor spending in 2018.

That’s Billion with a “B.”

That was a 4.4% increase over 2017, and it grows every year. It supported over 235,000 jobs, making it the sixth largest employer in the Commonwealth. With the incredible number of people who either work for or with the federal government in Virginia (from the shipyards of Norfolk to the military contractors in Fairfax), that’s a huge number.

That’s one of the reasons why we’ve been giving away cleanup kits and cigarette butt receptacles through September, and now again in October. Eliminating litter creates better, healthier, and more productive neighborhoods. It makes that autumn drive to enjoy the foliage a more enjoyable excursion for our out-of-state visitors.

And that’s like money in the bank.

All photos courtesy of Dave Parrish Photography

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Our 30 in Thirty Green Grants Recap for 2019!

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The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment. We believe in a shared responsibility to end littering, improve recycling and beautify communities.

To honor that commitment to the Commonwealth, we funded thirty grant recipients – one each day in the month of June – for our “30 in Thirty Green Grants” program. These grants were given to schools, parks, counties and towns, environmental groups, associations, and Keep America Beautiful affiliates in four different categories:   Community Beautification, Cigarette Litter Prevention, Litter Prevention, and Recycling. Since 2011, we have provided $230,000 for 290 different projects throughout the state. We are grateful for the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Throughout the next year, each of these Green Grant Winners will update us on their successes in putting their funding to good work. We appreciate THEIR commitment and especially their partnership in keeping Virginia beautiful.

And now, here are our 2019 Winners!

(Listed by Organization – Category – Amount – City)

Keep Manassas Beautiful   – Cigarette Litter Prevention  – $1,000  – Manassas

Harmony Hall Farm HOA    – Litter Prevention  – $750  – Wicomico Church

Deep Creek Middle School  – Litter Prevention  – $1,000  – Chesapeake

Real Chances, Inc.    – Community Beautification  – $1,000  – Richmond

Rappahannock Group Sierra Club    – Litter Prevention   – $1,000   – Fredericksburg

Friends of Norfolk’s Environment   – Community Beautification  – $1,000  – Norfolk

Frederick County Recycling    – Recycling  – $750  – Winchester

Virginia State University   – Cigarette Litter Prevention  – $1,000  – Petersburg

Sacred Heart Center  – Community Beautification  – $1,000  – Richmond

Virginia Capital Trail Foundation  – Litter Prevention – $750 – Richmond

Pennington Partners  – Cigarette Litter Prevention – $1,000  – Pennington Gap

Friends of Twin Lakes State Park  – Recycling  – $1,000 – Green Bay

Belvedere Elementary School   – Community Beautification  – $750 – Falls Church

City of Waynesboro Stormwater Program  – Cigarette Litter Prevention  – $500  – Waynesboro

Cove Ridge Foundation   – Recycling  – $1,000  – Duffield

Rappahannock County Recreational Facilities  – Community Beautification – $1,000 – Washington

Hanover Arts and Activities Center  – Community Beautification  – $1,000  – Ashland

Friends of Peak Creek, Inc.  – Cigarette Litter Prevention  – $500 – Pulaski

Albemarle County Public Schools  – Recycling  – $1,000 – Charlottesville

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad  – Community Beautification – $1,000 – Virginia Beach

Town of Hillsville, Virginia  – Recycling – $1,000  – Hillsville

Clean Valley Council – Cigarette Litter Prevention – $1,000 – Roanoke

Virginia Zoological Society  – Recycling – $1,000 – Norfolk

Va. Dept. of Environmental Quality – NOVA   – Cigarette Litter Prevention – $500 – Woodbridge

Seeds of Change Organization  – Litter Prevention – $500 – Richmond

Dickenson County Chamber/Visitor Center  – Community Beautification – $1,000 – Clintwood

Isle of Wight County – Litter Prevention – $1,000 – Isle of Wight

Keep Virginia Cozy, Inc. – Recycling – $750 – Richmond

Clean Fairfax – Recycling – $1,000 – Fairfax

Soil Cycles HVA – Recycling – $1,000 – Harrisonburg

 

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Soil Cycles Wins Our Final 2019 Green Grant!

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We awarded our annual “30 in Thirty Green Grants” daily during the month of June. Government, non-profit, civic and service organizations in Virginia were invited to apply for grants for $500 to $1,000 describing how they plan to tackle an environmental concern in their community regarding Litter Prevention, Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification. Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Soil Cycles HVA in Harrisonburg, has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1000 for its Recycling project. Soil Cycles is dedicated to composting and reducing food waste using human-powered bicycles for transportation. They collect compostable waste from residences and restaurants without the use of fossil fuel energy. Participants who subscribe to the program receive a 5-gallon bucket each week to fill with their compostable waste, and in return receive finished compost delivered to their home or business. If the subscriber doesn’t have a place to use the finished compost, it will be donated to a local community garden. Our Green Grant funds will be used to purchase a hitch for their bike trailer and for marketing materials.

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Clean Fairfax Nets 30 in Thirty

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Clean Fairfax County has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1000 for its Recycling project.

Government, non-profit, civic and service organizations in Virginia were invited to apply for grants for $500 to $1,000 describing how they plan to tackle an environmental concern in their community regarding Litter Prevention, Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification. These grants are being awarded daily during the month of June. Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Clean Fairfax works to reduce littering and increase recycling, reusing, and reducing consumption through public outreach, community cleanups and adopt-a-spots. The organization has partnered with Reston Farmers Market in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic consumption. With their funding, Clean Fairfax will purchase reusable produce bags to provide for shoppers instead of disposable produce bags. By replacing the plastic bags, Clean Fairfax and Reston Farmers Market are encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices throughout the County.

 

 

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Keep Virginia Cozy Wins Recycling Green Grant

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We’re lucky to have affiliate groups – both official and ad hoc – across the Commonwealth who are committed to our mission. Like us, most of them are volunteer driven. During the month of June, we’re awarding 30 of these groups with Green Grants so that they can expand their work. Government, non-profit, civic and service organizations in Virginia were invited to apply for grants for $500 to $1,000 describing how they plan to tackle an environmental concern in their community regarding Litter Prevention, Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification.

Today, Keep Virginia Cozy Inc. in Richmond has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $750 for its Recycling project. Keep Virginia Cozy is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to keeping Virginia clean and cozy. Beginning in the George Washington National Forest, the organization hopes to increase recycling in public areas and lands. Much of the litter that people bring to the trail heads are water bottles and other recyclables. Keep Virginia Cozy is going to use Green Grant funds to build and provide areas for those recyclables to be disposed of properly, rather than ending up in the landfill.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

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Isle of Wight County Wins Litter Prevention Green Grant

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We are awarding our annual “30 in Thirty Green Grants” daily during the month of June. Since 2011 we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

Isle of Wight County in Hampton Roads has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1000 for its Litter Prevention project. Isle of Wight County services waste needs for approximately 14,000 households. The County will implement a project to prevent litter called, “Teach Up the Pick Up.” It will focus on educating children about litter prevention, and getting students involved in school and roadside cleanups. They will also aim to prevent litter on highways through a “Cover Your Load” campaign. Funds received from our grant will be used to purchase educational materials for students, cleanup supplies, and “Cover Your Load” informational signs.

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Seeds of Change wins Green Grant for Litter Prevention

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The Seeds of Change Organization in Richmond has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $500 for its Litter Prevention project.

The Seeds of Change Organization is dedicated to supporting urban communities through agricultural practices. Currently, Seeds of Change is working on a Biggs Road Community Garden, located in Richmond’s 8th District. The organization will use their grant to reduce the amount of litter found in this area by installing pet waste stations, trash cans, and recycling bins. Neighbors, visitors, and dog-walkers will be able to keep the green space clean and beautiful.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

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Department of Environmental Quality wins for Skate Park Litter

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Virginia Department of Environmental Quality – Northern Regional Office (DEQ) in Woodbridge, has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $500 for its Cigarette Litter Prevention project. DEQ’s mission is to protect and enhance Virginia’s environment, and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth. The organization will use their grant funding to combat cigarette litter in a skate park at Veteran’s Memorial Park. DEQ will purchase cigarette disposal receptacles and educational signs to place throughout the park. The park staff will empty and maintain the receptacles, including participation in a free Cigarette Waste Recycling Program.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

 

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Virginia Zoological Society wins $1000 for Recycling

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The Virginia Zoological Society in Norfolk has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Green Grant of $1000 for its recycling project. The Virginia Zoo, home to over 700 animals, is the largest zoo in the Commonwealth. Partnering with Eco-cell, a family-owned business in Louisville, Kentucky, the zoo plans to recycle electronics like smartphones, tablets, adapters, and chargers. The electronic items use rare minerals and metals, several of which are mined in endangered species habitats. By recycling these electronic components, they will be help the environment by protecting the habitat of many endangered species, reduce stress on the environment, and deter toxic waste from our landfills by recycling what is often thrown in the trash. Funds provided by us will be used to purchase a secure deposit vault for collecting the electronics, as well as signs and graphics to educate the public about cell phone recycling.

Since 2011, we have provided $203,000 for 260 different environmental projects and programs all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity this year of our partner Altria, as well as additional support from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola.

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