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Environmental News Roundup: Summer Edition

This past Memorial Day Weekend officially kicked off the start of summer 2023, and with a new season comes new environmental news! Open (Farmers Market) Season! The time has finally come when all 20 farmers markets in Fairfax County are open for business! The County’s Park Authority operates half of those, the remaining 10 are

by Eleanor Kluegel May 30, 2023

ALL 52 POSTS UNDER Environmental News

Celebrating Earth Month+ 2023

We love the Earth so much, we needed a little more than one day to celebrate! Which is why we launched Earth Month+ again this year, and are sharing a whole bunch of Earth-loving activities & events to help you get outside, appreciate nature, learn about how and why we can protect it, and well…celebrate

by Eleanor Kluegel April 12, 2023
America Recycles Day x Environmental News Roundup

As the country celebrated another America Recycles Day this past week, we looked back at some of the new reports, major announcements, and state of recycling in the U.S. today.  America (Doesn’t Really) Recycles Day A Greenpeace report out at the end of last month exposed some ugly truths about plastic recycling in the U.S.

by Eleanor Kluegel November 17, 2022
Environmental Pushes for Policy and Paper in Virginia

How to help the environment: 1) push to increase funding for water infrastructure in the Chesapeake Bay and 2) dive into environmental initiatives and issues in Virginia.  Hey Bay, (Chesapeake) Bay Water infrastructure includes water supply, flood management, proper sewage and drainage systems, and coastal restoration infrastructure. Investing in this infrastructure, according to Chesapeake Bay

by Emily Foppe August 12, 2021
Code Green! Plastic Bag Fee Public Hearing

ePlastic bags trapped in debris on local, Fairfax County streambank. Photo credit: Emily FoppeA plastic bag fee ordinance will be discussed at a public hearing on September 14 at 4:30 PM in the Board Auditorium of the Fairfax County Government Center. While this legislation is framed as a tax, the ordinance would be more similar

by Emily Foppe July 29, 2021
Mismanaged and Misunderstood: Trash

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,

by Emily Foppe June 23, 2021
Big (Proposed) Budgets for the Environment

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

by Emily Foppe June 18, 2021
Your Daily Dose of Science

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

by Emily Foppe June 16, 2021
Plastic Disasters at Home and Afar

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

by Emily Foppe June 4, 2021
Bug Bites Bite…

…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

by Emily Foppe June 2, 2021