The Clean Fairfax Council Blog

Mayday, Plastic Pollution
by Emily Foppe July 14, 2021

Pointing Fingers at Plastic

The push to stop transforming fossil fuels to plastic has not received the attention it deserves. We easily point fingers (and rightfully so) at the transportation sector as a contributor to climate change; in response, there’s a push for solar energy and electric vehicles as preferential climate change solutions. Climate solutions also require smaller scale changes and nuanced legislation changes, but these options are not nearly as flashy and popular. The irony of environmental movements is we often focus on the elusive, big picture solutions. We make lofty goals such as 100% renewable energy or phasing out ALL single use plastics by 2050, before getting into the details of how we would accomplish these goals. What we need to remember to prioritize is to push for regulations and policy that restrains the plastic market in light of the prevalence and persistence of plastic pollution and to walk before we can run. 

Local Fairfax County stream featuring the always prevalent single-use plastic bottles. Photo credit: Emily Foppe

Recent research from a team of scientists that spanned the fields of chemistry, engineering, sustainability, and materials science stressed, “To achieve a more sustainable future, integration of not only technological considerations, but also equity analysis, consumer behavior, geographical demands, policy reform, life-cycle assessment, infrastructure alignment, and supply chain partnerships are vital,”. In other words, the backbone of a sustainable future requires complex and collaborative solutions. It seems like all kinds of scientists are on the same page and they call for new approaches to plastics design, production and use, in order to keep plastics out of landfills and waterways. Now all that’s left is for consumers, producers, and lawmakers to get on board.

World-wide Tipping Point

“Technology, and clean-ups, won’t save us from plastic pollution” according to leading environmental and geotechnical scientists. To tackle the plastic problem at its root, before it’s too late, recent research, called for caps on the production of virgin plastic to increase the value of recycled plastic and a ban on the export of plastic waste. The article stressed lack of progress in mitigating plastic pollution could lead to an array problems– what they call “hypothetical examples of possible effects” such as 1) exacerbation of climate change due to global carbon alteration, 2) biodiversity loss in the ocean where plastic pollution is an additional stressor to overfishing, 3) ongoing habitat loss caused by changes in water temperature, nutrient supply and chemical exposure. 

These hypothetical, enormous environmental disasters have the potential to manifest in our lifetime without an alteration of human behavior. Indeed, global emissions of plastic to the world’s waters are expected to almost double by 2025 if business-as-usual scenarios continue. Plastic pollution is approaching an irreversible tipping point and we all are called to play a part in the providing pressure for progress.

Tap Water Truths
by Emily Foppe July 8, 2021

Plastic water bottles often seem more convenient and safe than tap water, but this is not true. Oftentimes, we turn to bottled water because it’s 1) more “pure”, or tastier, and 2) more convenient than what comes from the tap. Let’s dive into it. 

First, what does it mean to be “purer” and does bottled water taste better? The difference between these two waters is who regulates the standards. The EPA regulates tap water, while FDA regulates bottled water, but in both cases, there are similar standards. Differences in taste often have to do with different sources. For example, water in Saint Louis, Missouri, from the Missouri River tastes different from water in Fairfax, Virginia, from the Potomac River. Both, however, are safe sources of drinking water (after being treated, of course). While this news piece details plastic bottles as problematic, it unnecessarily raises drinking water safety concerns. It’s alarmist regard for PFAS or “forever chemicals” found in drinking water is a little extreme, especially in light of Fairfax Water’s analysis in April of 2021 (spoiler: no risk for PFAS exposure).  So to answer our question, no, bottled water is not “purer” or inherently safer than tap water. 

Local Fairfax County stream ridden with single-use plastic water bottles. Photo Credit: Emily Foppe

Secondly, bottled water companies sell a convenient way to drink water. This means companies selling plastic water bottles really sell plastic bottles filled with tap water. The life-cycle of plastic bottles contributes to global warming and pollution– you only have to step out into your local creeks to find evidence of massive amounts of plastic pollution (see photo)! To say plastic pollution is inconvenient to the environment does not do it justice. This great source of information estimates $13 billion in yearly losses due to plastic pollution in marine environments– where all freshwater in our streams eventually flows. 

Now that we have debunked the convenience, safety and tastiness of bottled water, join us this Plastic Free July in committing to reusable water bottles. Keep one in your car, in case you forget. No water bottle refill station at work or the gym? Fill it up in the sink or at a regular drinking fountain! What’s more, advocate for producer responsibility. We were all told growing up to clean up our own messes, and corporations have made profits off of polluting the environment. See our previous post on why solely individual action can’t solve the plastic pollution problem at hand.

What’s the Tea: Plastic Free July
by Emily Foppe July 1, 2021

Imperfect is perfectly fine as far as the environment is concerned and some progress is better than no progress at all! So join us in committing to Plastic Free July to do our small part in reducing our environmental impact.

Local, Fairfax County stream burdened with single-use plastics such as water bottles and plastic bags (both produce and shopping bags). Photo credit: Emily Foppe

Eliminating single-use plastics in your daily life can be as simple as utilizing a reusable water bottle and grocery bags. But, as this 2019 article discusses, banishing ALL plastics from your life can be a challenge. So many products ingrained in our routines are wrapped up in plastic.  Looking at the extent of plastic pollution worldwide, we know that this problem didn’t arise overnight and is decades in the making. I find it interesting to reflect on how plastic became the status quo for products to situate our understanding of the past and future of plastic use.

Before World War Two and the Great Depression, plastic products were not ingrained so deeply in day to day life and reusable products were just regular products. Plastic was initially necessary during these eras as it substituted for scarce natural resources during the war and plastic production assisted the economy in it’s recovery by providing a inexpensive, safe, and sanitary material. It was dire need that invented and implemented this material and we have not revisited its widespread use in decades. From history, we find evidence that it is possible to reduce the use of these products and more efficiently utilize continuous cycles of use with modern technology. 

What’s important to consider, as we participate in this month of plastic pollution awareness, is that we aren’t the one ones producing this plastic in the first place. This article discusses how just a handful of companies are the ones contributing the majority (55%) of the world’s plastic waste. This means, even if every person was perfectly prohibiting plastic from their lives, our actions wouldn’t be enough to completely address plastic pollution.

Plastic Free July is not only about reducing single-use plastics in our daily life, but also a time for us to reflect on how we can pressure systems to reduce the production of these problematic plastics in the first place.

Bottle Bills Be Bussin But a Bit Broken
by Emily Foppe June 25, 2021

Bussin (definition)

Know what’s trending (other than the word “bussin”)? Using recycled materials in goods. From yoga pants, to deck chairs, to plastic bottles with minimum recycled content, brands are hopping on the “green” bandwagon to give the people what they want. With increases in demands for recycled plastic, bottle bills seem like a wonderful solution. Even the plastic industry, such as American Beverage, are “open to discussion on any kinds of systems that will get our bottles back,”. However, people within the recycling industry don’t think current curbside recycling can keep up with the times, and bottle bills create their own, streamlined system for processing plastic. So what’s the hold-up, and why was Hawaii the last state to implement a bottle bill, 16 years ago?

Single-use plastic water bottles along local, Fairfax County stream bank. Photo Credit: Will Grinnell

This article discusses some of the nuances and challenges involved with established bottle bills. Roadblocks to successful bottle bills include high operating costs, lower collection rates (you, often, are the one dropping off the bottles), a shrinking number of deposit centers and issues with funding. Advocates say there are solutions to these roadblocks. To name a few, expanding the kinds of bottles that can be returned for redemption (technology changes over time, thus changing types of plastic produced) and raising the redemption value to match inflation rates.  Once these systems are modernized and a system is in place for successful performance, bottle bills would meet current demands for recycled resin; however, steamrolling ahead and investing in a process that, historically, has faced challenges comes off as an irresponsible plan. Progress needs to be made in light of current challenges, so that new systems are shored up and successful.

What’s more, Representative Luria for Virginia 02 is championing a bill that would tax virgin plastic. This goes about a bottle bill in a different way. Essentially, her bill would implement a bottle bill unless single use bottles are made from recycled plastic. And that, my friends, is bussin.

 

Mismanaged and Misunderstood: Trash
by Emily Foppe June 23, 2021

Recent news highlights plastic pollution challenges in Virginia and gives insight on the work being done, as well as what more be done. This article notes 60% to 80% of trash in Earth’s oceans comes from our behavior on land and while this is absolutely true, there are intricacies at work when looking at plastic, and waste in general, problems. The most current research uses only 2% of this trash as being litter (including illegal dumping). If this is true, where does this other trash come from? And why, after almost 40 years of cleanups in Fairfax County, is trash persistent in the natural environment?

Bar graph showing how many trash cans service condos, compared to equivalent number of single-family homes. Credit: Emily Foppe

Mismanaged waste from industry and insufficient solid waste infrastructure is to blame. What does this problem look like in Virginia, to have insufficient solid waste management and infrastructure? You can look at any number of apartments, townhomes, and condos in Fairfax County to find evidence of a blatantly broken system. Based on information from a local condo facility, these condos receive 75% decreased waste service compared to single family homes in Fairfax County (see graphic). Insufficient service leads to improper disposal of trash– piling up of trash bags around dumpsters, which attracts nuisance wildlife. Wildlife then rips open bags, and viola! Trash is now free to wash into local waterways. Similarly, in Northwestern Fairfax county, condo residents are told to pile up in bags on storm drains on trash day (see photo). With these examples, we see how systems are currenting failing people, rather than people failing to do their part.

Trash piled up on trash day in Fairfax County, right next to storm drain that leads directly into close-by stream. Photo Credit: Emily Foppe

Waste collection inequity of service in Fairfax County is evident after a day out in local, urban waterways. Trash is a reality and it has to go somewhere! Improved solid waste management and infrastructure are necessary to address waste in our waterways. Limiting our use of plastic products and community clean ups are a positive step in the right direction, but many products necessary for daily life are, literally, wrapped in plastic. 

Solving waste problems, like waste itself, is messy and one size does not fit all. In addition to messaging and necessary legislation to decrease the amount of waste generated in the first place, we need to look critically at the existing infrastructure. Waste systems have not been adapting with change for decades and we see evidence of this in our local waterways and oceans. Tackling waste pollution must involve creative opportunities for better waste handling processes for residential and commercial properties.

 Katie Register, the author of the article mentioned above, raised great points, particularly regarding necessary legislation and the shortcomings of Virginia’s Litter Tax. Moreover, her work with Clean Virginia Waterways and research with Longwood universities is instrumental to plastic pollution mitigation progress. Check out some of their great work to arm yourself with knowledge this summer!

Big (Proposed) Budgets for the Environment
by Emily Foppe June 18, 2021

Federal Funding

The  Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) largest ever proposed budget, set at $11.2 billion, includes $10 million in grants for initiatives surrounding recycling innovation. These grants would aim to assist municipal governments with their recycling programs, in addition to providing aid for improving local waste systems. If Congress passes this budget later in the year, it would be a historical milestone for the EPA; however, there is some contention on whether this investment is aggressive enough to tackle the size of the plastic problem. In particular, Judith Enck, former EPA regional administrator, asserted, “$10 million in proposed grants is far too modest given the scope of the problem” and was concerned the investment would promote chemical recycling and related technologies.  Check out this article to learn more about the EPA’s preview on their national recycling strategy and measurement guide.

Local, Fairfax County stream and plastic waste that has accumulated in the stream (i.e. trash trap). Often, inefficient or broken solid waste collection leads to this waste washing into local waterways. Photo Credit: Zach Huntington.

Local Allocations

Some local governments are also proposing progressive budgets for waste solutions; in particular, Baltimore and Washington D.C. both have millions of dollars being proposed to make progress towards their zero waste initiatives. In Washington D.C., a proposed budget of $100 million would make improvements at a local waste transfer station (i.e. where trash goes before it goes to the landfill or incinerator) and create new, city-wide composting facilities. In Baltimore, a proposed budget of $50 million would 1) provide recycling bins to every resident and 2) kick off their “Less Waste, Better Baltimore” waste reduction master plan. Last, but certainly not least, Arlington, VA will likely roll out curbside food scrap collection in September! The proposed budget in Prince William’s county includes $300,00 to expand food scrap collection to existing green organics bin service. This actually is projected to save residents a dollar annually, and may increase as the process becomes more widespread and efficient! Check out this article to learn more about different waste reduction strategies happening across the United States.

Your Daily Dose of Science
by Emily Foppe June 16, 2021

Top notch greenhouse gas results post-pandemic

Did you know, greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. CO₂) dropped 33% during the pandemic? According to new research, levels of carbon dioxide (a problem child greenhouse gas) fell drastically in both Los Angeles and Washington D.C./ Baltimore. This may not come as a surprise to you, as people weren’t able to travel and were quarantined at home. But this new, cutting edge research used a new kind of method for drawing their conclusion; scientists measured actual levels of carbon dioxide in the air as opposed to tallying up sources of carbon dioxide. Cities often underestimate emissions when tallying up sources, such as power plants or number of vehicle miles traveled. Consequently, this research set up new ways for cities to accurately determine greenhouse gas emissions. You might be thinking “measuring carbon dioxide in the air can’t be the best way to determine emissions, because 0.04% of our atmosphere on earth is already carbon dioxide!”. However, scientists can parse out where and when carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere with this new method, and more accurately determine sources and levels of greenhouse gases. According to James Whetstone, leader of National Institute of Standards and Technology’s greenhouse gas measurements group and a co-author of the study, “Accurate measurements are key to any strategy for managing greenhouse gas emissions.” Check out this summary of the cutting edge research to learn more details about the work being done to determine the success, or failure, of our progress towards climate change mitigation.

Microplastics being crazy cats and kittens

Hotspots for bacteria breeding ground

Microplastics in consumer products, from clothing, to glitter, to teabags, pose a risk to human health as they provide a welcoming breeding ground for problem bacteria. In New Jersey, household microplastics enter wastewater treatment plants and serve as a carrier for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other illness-causing agents. Wastewater treatment plants do not possess the infrastructure to remove microplastics and plastics interact with sludge, the solids leftover from wastewater treatment.

Local, Fairfax County storm drain, that flows to a local stream ridden with trash. Once plastic waste begins to break down from tumbling downstream, these smaller plastics are considered “legacy plastics”. Photo credit: Emily Foppe

Recent research found strains of bacteria were 30 times more antibiotic resistant while in contact with a special kind of microplastic, called biofilm, that forms inside sludge units wastewater treatment plants. Check out the article for more details on “How our microplastic waste becomes ‘hubs’ for pathogens, antibiotic-resistant bacteria”.

Free falling microplastics

What’s more, microplastics in the air– from tires, agricultural fields and legacy plastics (i.e. microplastics broken down from larger plastics from wind and waves)– are deposited on land in hotspots that occur in U.S., Europe, Middle East, India and Eastern Asia. Microplastics that are wind-borne can stay suspended in the air for 6.5 days! That’s enough time for these tiny plastics to travel a continent. To learn more about invisible, air-borne microplastics and the importance of understanding this global cycle, check out this summary and the research abstract, if you’re feeling like flexing your inner scientist. 

Plastic Disasters at Home and Afar
by Emily Foppe June 4, 2021

Plastic Pollution in Your Backyard!

Have you ever wondered what your county’s most polluted plastic product is? If you live in Fairfax County, plastic bags are the top litter offender! What’s more, plastic bags are 1) notoriously hard to recycle (1-3% recycled per year) and 2) millions of dollars in each state are spent cleaning up this litter.  Plastic bag fees have been shown as a successful measure in reducing this harmful litter in other communities, and are a proactive way of keeping plastic pollution out of our local waterways. In Virginia, momentum is building in response to Roanoke’s bag fee bill. To engage deeper with the cold, hard facts of plastic pollution in Virginia, check out Clean Virginia’s Waterways incredible resources.

Just another day in your local, Fairfax County streams, finding single-use plastic bags. Photo credit: Emily Foppe

Plastic Disaster, Afar!

Plastic “snow” recently overwhelmed Sri Lanka’s beaches after a week of raging flames. Poor packaging of fertilizer chemicals is suspected to have caused the explosion that has left Sri Lanka’s beaches covered in this snow, that is really potentially toxic plastic beads. Shipping containers on the MV X-Press Pearl, the ship in question, carried both fertilizer chemicals and 78 metric tons of plastic pellets (equal to ~9 garbage trucks) and led to the environmental disaster. Sri Lanka’s plastic pellet coated beaches are already wreaking havoc on the natural environment, causing fish kills and presenting challenges to beach crabs. Fishing and tourism make up an important part of Sri Lanka’s economy, and both will both be severely impacted by this environmental disaster.  Check out this article for more information on the fire caused by the explosion, the ship itself, and commentary from local conservation groups.

 

Bug Bites Bite…
by Emily Foppe June 2, 2021

It’s important to use pollinator friendly mosquito repellent techniques to protect these important creatures! Photo credit: Jen Cole

…but so do insecticides for local pollinators!

According to recent news, Prince William’s County has recently found evidence of West Nile virus in local mosquitoes. The city is applying insecticides to target adult mosquitos and Public Works continues to monitor for further cases. What’s more, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) monitors cases found in humans on a state-by-state basis and there have been two reported cases in Virginia and one in Maryland as of last week (updated May 25, 2021). Insecticides can be necessary at a municipal scale when battling a public health concern such as West Nile, however, when it comes to best management practices for individuals (like us!) during peak mosquito season, using simple, low impact solutions can sufficiently help decrease these pesky blood suckers in your backyard. Most people know to eliminate standing water to keep mosquitoes from breeding, but you can also deter mosquitoes by 1) planting natural herbs and flowers, 2) inviting bats to your backyard, and 3) by keeping that air flowing! Check out this article for more insight on ways beyond insecticides for dealing with mosquitoes this summer. Comment below your personal favorite natural mosquito repellent!

Keep the Trash Out of the Treasure
by Emily Foppe May 28, 2021

Do we know the difference between trash and treasure?

Goodwill has a message for people making donations– stop donating your trash! While it doesn’t feel great to throw away things we’ve bought, pawning off your trash (or things you don’t use in bad condition) is never the answer. Making these “donations” may make you feel better about your consumption, but ends up costing these organizations thousands of dollars each year. Also, is it fair to think we are helping people who rely on these organizations for discounted goods by giving them things even we would not use anymore? News from both this month and years ago similarly stress trash being donated is a problem and demonstrate this issue is not new. After coming across Goodwill’s statement, I am more intentional about sifting through my donations before I drop them off.

Beach littered with plastics, including plastic water bottle cap. Photo credit: Emily Foppe

Investing and Protecting

The Department of Energy recently announced an astounding budget of up to $14.5 million for research and development to cut waste and reduce the energy required to recycle single-use plastics (i.e. plastic bags, wraps, and films). These solutions incentivize investing in recycling technologies and creating recycling jobs in the United States, and ultimately reduce the amount of plastics that end up in the environment. 

Funding recycling technologies to streamline and increase efficiency would keep plastic out of the environment. We see evidence of our failed recycling industry in the new research out every week. New results this week are yet another example of just how far reaching single-use plastic pollution is, yet again. Scientists out of the Galapagos have shown hotspots of litter in key habitats coming from ocean currents. The lead scientist, Dr. Jones, stated,

“Given the level of pollution we have found in this remote location, it’s clear that plastic pollution needs to stop at source. You can’t fix the problem just by cleaning beaches.”

The Galapagos Islands are famous for being the birthplace of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and home to the “Godzilla” marine iguana. Keeping our trash (specifically, single-use plastics) out of the environment is only possible with adequate waste and recycling services for all people. The Department of Energy’s willingness to invest in research and development could lead to technologies necessary to stop plastic pollution at the source.