March 2020 GreenNews

March 2020

Your Monthly GreenNews

Meetings for the Waste Watchers of the Eastern Shore are typically held on the second Wednesday of every month.

Our new meeting time and location is from 5:30pm-7:30pm at the Sage Diner in Onley.

Minutes from the last meeting, in February, can be found here .

Please join us for our next meeting at 5:30pm

Wednesday March 11th . All are welcome!

Agenda for the March meeting can be found here .

News, Current Events, & Resources

Interested in Recyclilng? Check out the Virginia Recycling Association Annual Conference where Southeast Recycling Development Council will be speaking/attending!

April 29 – May 1, 2020

Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Ocean Coservancy has a Trash Free Seas Program that aids in cleanups on the water or at a marina! The best part? They're FREE! Ocean Conservancy will even send a free Marina Cleanup Toolkit in exchange for tracking and sending simple results of your cleanup - which can be done easily through their Clean Swell app right on your phone!

National Litter Pick Day is March 21st!

Get kids involved in picking up litter by turning it into a scavenger hunt like this:

(PDF link here )

Let's Celebrate Earth Day Every Day in 2020!

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22), Keep America Beautiful is pleased to partner with Earth Day Network to expand the efforts of the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup ^® , the nation's largest community improvement program, which takes place from March 19 through June 20.

Not only are we cleaning America, we strive to clean the world – all as part of the Great Global Cleanup ^™ . Through our Great American Cleanup, we will serve as the U.S. engine behind making the Great Global Cleanup the world's largest largest volunteer mobilization effort ever!

When did Earth Day begin? Check out this short video to learn the history behind Earth Day!

General Assembly and Legislation Updates!

SB 193 Single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene products; local prohibition; local tax. FAILED

SB 198 Disposable plastic shopping bags; local option. Incorporated into SB11 (Disposable plastic bags; local taxation per bag in Planning District 8 when provided to consumers); awaiting vote in the Finance & Appropriations Committee.

SB 26 Plastic bag tax in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Awaiting a Vote in the Finance and Appropriations Committee.

HB 302 Litter tax; repeals annual tax. FAILED

HB502 Litter tax; adds $100 to the existing penalty for delinquency. Awaiting a Vote in the Finance and Appropriations Committee.

HB1154 Litter taxes; increases annual amount of tax. Awaiting a Vote in the Finance and Appropriations Committee.

The Clean VA C ampaign Toolbox is great for talking points on the importance of legislation for single use bags. The Clean VA Legislation Tracker page hosts talking points for several of the bills that are being heard at the 2020 General Assembly.

Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee This page contains contact information for all member of the committee

Despite being critically underfunded, the Litter Control and Recycling Fund is a proven success story for Virginia. In Fiscal Year 2019, $1.7 million was dispersed to 190 localities and programs. This funding provided an economic value of $22 million and helped resource 5,500 community clean ups that allowed 45,000 volunteers to remove 75,000 cubic yards of litter. This is the best return on investment of any tax in the Commonwealth.

Have an idea for an area that needs attention? It's time to plan the Operation Our Clean Roads events for spring 2020. Get in touch so we can help you organize a fun and rewarding clean up day in your neck of the woods!

Waste Watchers Leadership Needed!

Please " look in your heart and see if you have a few hours a month to help out. And remember; people who are part of a group live longer, happier lives. Honest! Numerous studies have shown that to be true. So let us help you to live a better life by accepting a leadership role with us! " We are looking for a new Treasurer, Litter Survey Coordinator, and soon a Vice President.

This monthly e-newletter is made possible by the GreenWorks Committee, a collaboration between the Waste Watchers of the Eastern Shore and the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission!

These mailings will announce upcoming meetings of the Waste Watchers and those of the GreenWorks Committee, as well as potential volunteer opportunities, related community events, and locally relevant news articles.

Waste Watchers of the Eastern Shore | (757) 824-0608 | [email protected]| www.wastewatchers.esva.net