Cigarette Litter

Green Grants Logo

Congratulations to all of the 2023 Green Grant Awardees!

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Green Grants LogoWe continue to be impressed by the plans and ideas that organizations want to put into action with a Green Grant award.  The judging panel has such a challenging task to evaluate and score all the grant applications.  We sincerely appreciate the work they do, both in their professional fields, and as a volunteer for our organization.  Thank you Green Grant judges!

Thank you to everyone who submitted an application. We wish we could fund them all!  We’re encouraged by the work of volunteers at civic groups, nonprofits, faith-based communities, and others that are striving to improve the natural and scenic environment of the Commonwealth.

And of course the program wouldn’t be possible without the funding and support of our sponsors:  Altria, WestRock, and Village Bank!  We are very grateful for their generous and continued support!

Altria Logo         WestRock Logo      Logo for Village Bank

Below we’ve listed the organizations that were awarded a 2023 Green Grant, along with the category of their project or program, the award amount, and the region of the state where their work will be done.  You can click on the organization’s name to link to our website’s blog announcement.  We hope you’ll visit the announcements of this year’s awards, you’re sure to be inspired!

6/1/2023 Social Music LLC Cigarette Litter Prevention $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/2/2023 Art Guild of Greene Recycling $1,000 Central Virginia
6/3/2023 Pulaski County Litter $1,000 Southwest Virginia
6/4/2023 Verdant Richmond for Maymont Community Garden Community Beautification $1,000 Central Virginia
6/5/2023 Work of Life at Handley High School Recycling $1,000 Shenandoah Mtns/Valley
6/6/2023 Eastern Shore of Virginia Waste Watchers Litter $500 Eastern Shore
6/7/2023 Hanover Master Gardeners Association Community Beautification $750 Central Virginia
6/8/2023 Wakefield Country Day School’s Leo Club Litter $500 Central Virginia
6/9/2023 Clean Essex Committee Cigarette Litter Prevention $500 Central Virginia
6/10/2023 Fairview Farm and Homestead Foundation Community Beautification $500 Southwest Virginia
6/11/2023 Church of the Holy Family Recycling $750 Hampton Roads
6/12/2023 Bay School Community Arts Center Community Beautification $1,000 Central Virginia
6/13/2023 Town of St. Paul Cigarette Litter Prevention $500 Southwest Virginia
6/14/2023 Lake Anna Business Partnership Litter $1,000 Central Virginia
6/15/2023 Department of Military Affairs / Fort Barfoot Recycling $1,000 Central Virginia
6/16/2023 The Greater Scotts Addition Association Litter $1,000 Central Virginia
6/17/2023 City of Salem Community Beautification $1,000 Shenandoah Mtns/Valley
6/18/2023 Lynnhaven River NOW Litter $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/19/2023 The City of Newport News Cigarette Litter Prevention $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/20/2023 Carroll County Recycling $500 Southwest Virginia
6/21/2023 Friends of the Middle River Litter $500 Shenandoah Mtns/Valley
6/22/2023 Piedmont Arts Community Beautification $1,000 Southwest Virginia
6/23/2023 City of Manassas Park Cigarette Litter Prevention $500 Northern Virginia
6/24/2023 Kiptopeke State Park Litter $1,000 Eastern Shore
6/25/2023 Keep Middlesex Beautiful Recycling $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/26/2023 The Mariners’ Museum and Park Community Beautification $1,000 Hampton Roads
6/27/2023 Friends of Leesylvania State Park Litter $1,000 Northern Virginia
6/28/2023 Page County Solid Waste & Recycling Cigarette Litter Prevention $1,000 Shenandoah Mtns/Valley
6/29/2023 RVA Rapid Transit Litter $750 Central Virginia
6/30/2023 Town of Independence Community Beautification $750 Southwest Virginia
Railroad bridge in St. Paul, Virginia

Town of St. Paul Awarded $500 Green Grant

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Railroad bridge in St. Paul, VirginiaThe Town of St. Paul is awarded a $500 Green Grant in the Cigarette Litter Prevention as part of our 13th Annual Green Grants Program.

Every year, government, non-profit, civic, and service organizations in Virginia are invited to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 that will help address an environmental concern in their community. Grants must focus on one of the following priorities: Litter Prevention, Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification.

Founded in 1911, the Town of St. Paul it is one of the smallest of the six towns in Wise County. Many people visit the town of St. Paul because of their location and the many natural resources of the area.

With cigarette butts being the number one most littered item in Virginia, the Town of St. Paul wants to reduce the amount of cigarette butts littered on the ground. Although they have multiple cigarette butt receptacles throughout Town, there is a need to place more outside of local downtown businesses and in the park. Funds provided by the Green Grants Program will be used to purchase and install three permanent cigarette butt receptacles.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve the natural and scenic environment.  Since 2011, the Green Grants Program has provided $282,000 for 385 programs and projects throughout the state.  Funding is made possible through generous support from  Altria, as well as additional sponsorships from WestRock and Village Bank.

Green Grants Logo

Thirty Green Grant Awards Wrap Up for 2022

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Green Grants LogoCongratulations to all the 2022 Green Grants that were awarded in June!

We continue to be impressed by the ideas for projects and programs that groups submitted, and the volunteer power and sweat equity that they’re ready to put into action to accomplish goals that will improve our natural and scenic environment.  Thank you to all who applied, and for the good work that you’re doing in your communities!

We wish we could fund all the applications — the competition is fierce!  It makes the role of our judging panel difficult, and we appreciate their time and expertise.

We also want to give a shout out and a huge THANK YOU to this year’s sponsors, without whom this program would not be possible:  Altria, WestRock, and Village Bank!

Altria Logo         WestRock Logo      Logo for Village Bank

Here’s a recap of the daily announcements of Green Grant awards for 2022, with links for your reading pleasure and inspiration!

Announced Category Amount Organization
6/1/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Mill Mountain Zoo
6/2/2022 Recycling $1,000 Northern VA 4-H Educational & Conf Center
6/3/2022 Litter Prevention $750 DuPont Elementary School
6/4/2022 CLPP $1,000 Frederick County
6/5/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Union Presbyterian Seminary
6/6/2022 Recycling $750 North Branch School
6/7/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Pollinator Habitat Garden Club
6/8/2022 CLPP $1,000 Dickenson County Chamber of Commerce
6/9/2022 Recycling $1,000 Ridge Elementary PTA
6/10/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Town of Purcellville
6/11/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Virginia Community Voice
6/12/2022 Community Beautification $500 Friends of Forest Hill Park
6/13/2022 Litter Prevention $1,000 City of Fairfax, Treasurer
6/14/2022 CLPP $1,000 City of Newport News
6/15/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Friends of the Lower Appomattox River
6/16/2022 Litter Prevention $500 Town of Pennington Gap
6/17/2022 Recycling $1,000 Dorey Park Farmers Market
6/18/2022 Litter Prevention $500 Keep Suffolk Beautiful
6/19/2022 Recycling $1,000 Upper Tennessee River Roundtable
6/20/2022 Litter Prevention $1,000 GroundworkRVA
6/21/2022 Recycling $1,000 Gloucester County
       6/22/2022 Litter Prevention $1,000 Friends of Norfolk’s Environment
6/23/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Blue Ridge Conservation
6/24/2022 Recycling $500 Charlottesville TimeBank
6/25/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Sustainability Matters
6/26/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Concerned Citizens of Charles City County
6/27/2022 CLPP $1,000 askHRGreen
6/28/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Downtown Greens
6/29/2022 Recycling $1,000 Children’s Museum of Richmond
6/30/2022 Community Beautification $1,000 Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley
Large Fake Cigarette Butts

Green Grant of $1,000 Awarded to askHRgreen for Cigarette Litter Prevention

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Large Fake Cigarette ButtsToday’s Green Grant award goes to askHRgreen in the amount of $1,000 for their Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.  It’s one of thirty grants being awarded throughout Virginia in June as part of our 12th Annual “Green Grants” Program.

askHRgreen.org is a public awareness program of the 17 cities and counties of Hampton Roads that is administered through the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. askHRgreen encourages environmental stewardship among all residents in southeastern Virginia.

askHRgreen.org is dedicated to curbing cigarette litter and are actively engaged in educating the public about cigarette litter through their #NoButtsAboutIt campaign. There are two key parts to this campaign. First, large-scale cigarette butt replicas were constructed and are displayed in prominent locations around the region, bringing awareness to the problem of cigarette litter. At two feet tall, the cigarette replicas make a big statement that cigarette litter is not a small problem.

For the second action item to the #NoButtsAboutIt campaign, askHRgreen.org places cigarette waste receptacles into the hands of local businesses to assist them in eliminating cigarette butt litter on the ground and in the landscape.  Locating a convenient disposal option for smokers at transition points, such as the entry door from the parking lot of retail businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, gyms, libraries, and more, is a proven way to combat cigarette litter.

askHRgreen LogoInitially launched in spring 2021, the program has provided 48 cigarette receptacles to area businesses thus far, at no charge. This represents a small number of the businesses interested in receiving a cigarette butt receptacle at their location. There are over 100 additional requests pending for receptacles.

The Green Grant funding will help askHRgreen provide an additional twelve receptacles for area businesses, as well as create new outreach materials featuring the #NoButtsAboutIt large-scale cigarette butts.

With cigarette butts being the most often littered item in Virginia, it’s good to see programs like this one that will give smokers options for proper disposal of cigarette butts.  Congratulations askHRgreen!

Cigarette Butt Receptacles

Green Grant Award Goes to Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads

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Cigarette Butt ReceptaclesCongratulations to today’s award of our 2021 Green Grants — Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads, in Portsmouth, will receive a grant award of $500 for its Cigarette Litter Prevention project!

Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life. They work with communities to provide students with assistance from matters relating to food and healthcare, as well as academic assistance and mentorship programs.

Communities In Schools of Hampton Roads recently launched the “Keep Our Streets Clean” initiative, which is designed to reduce the amount of cigarette litter in the community.  The project will focus on making cigarette trash receptacles more accessible, and educating community members on the importance of properly disposing of cigarettes. Communities in Schools of Hampton Roads will use their grant funds to purchase fire-safe outdoor ashtrays and additional trash cans.

We’re grateful to have partners like these that are tackling the #1 most littered item, cigarette butts!

Every year, 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, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different environmental programs and projects all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity of their partnership with Altria, as well as additional support from Coca-Cola, WestRock and Keep America Beautiful.

 

Altria Logo

Coca-Cola Logo        WestRock Logo         

 

Cigarette Receptacles

Big Stone Gap Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

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Cigarette ReceptaclesCongratulations to the Township of Big Stone Gap, today’s award of our 2021 Green Grants!  They will receive a $1000 grant for their Cigarette Litter Prevention Project.  We’ll be announcing one each day during the month of June. 

Big Stone Gap is a town of over 5,000 people in Wise County. The Township is working to beautifying the downtown historical district and convert from a coal-reliant entity to a tourism-driven economy. With surrounding historical venues and outdoor recreation, he Historic Downtown is currently growing with several new restaurants and shops.

However, as tourism activity has increased in Big Stone Gap, there has been a subsequent rise in cigarette littering. Big Stone Gap will use funds from their Green Grants award to purchase and install cigarette receptacles in high traffic areas around town, including the historic downtown and public parks. The placement of receptacles will provide a significant reduction in cigarette littering, and beautify the town in the process.

Every year, 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, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different environmental programs and projects all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity of their partnership with Altria, as well as additional support from Coca-Cola, WestRock and Keep America Beautiful.

Altria Logo

Coca-Cola Logo        WestRock Logo         

 

$1,000 Grant Award Goes to the Town of Floyd

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Music ConcertToday we’re excited to announce that the town of Floyd, in Floyd County, will receive a grant award of $1000 for its Cigarette Litter Prevention project!  We’ll be announcing one each day during the month of June. 

The Town of Floyd is a small community with just under 500 residents who all support its thriving art and cultural scene. Through the center of town runs Warren G. Lineberry Community Park, a formerly vacant lot that was transformed for use as an event space and town gathering place. In an effort to draw awareness to cigarette litter along their streets, they plan to launch their “Butts to the Bins” campaign.

They will use the $1,000 Green Grant funds to install smoker’s receptacles throughout downtown Floyd, including the Warren G. Lineberry Community Park, the entrance and exit to the Heritage Trail, the main public parking areas, as well as the Floyd Visitors Center, and the Floyd Farmer’s Market.  Educational information bringing awareness to cigarette litter and the new receptacles will be available on a touchscreen visitor station.

Every year, 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, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different environmental programs and projects all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity of their partnership with Altria, as well as additional support from Coca-Cola, WestRock and Keep America Beautiful.

Altria Logo

Coca-Cola Logo        WestRock Logo         

 

$1,000 Grant Award Goes to S.A.F.E.

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Pocket AshtraysCongratulations to today’s award of our 2021 Green Grants:  Substance Abuse Free Environment, in Chesterfield County!  They will receive a grant award of $1000 for their Cigarette Litter Prevention project. We continue to announce one award each day during the month of June. 

Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE) is a nonprofit organization working to prevent and reduce substance abuse.  SAFE recognizes the disparity in tobacco use (and other substances) among diverse, underserved, and marginalized communities. Along with the Tobacco and Nicotine Task Force, SAFE has an African American Coalition, a Latino Coalition, and a Youth Coalition to better serve these specific communities in Chesterfield County with targeted initiatives. SAFE TNT partners with these other Coalition Coordinators to reach these specific populations to provide education and resources that are relevant, and in an accessible manner.

SAFE will use their grant funds to purchase pocket ashtrays and distribute them in kits to smokers as a means to reduce cigarette littering in Chesterfield County. In addition to the pocket ashtrays, kits will include infographics and fact sheets with cigarette littering statistics and information about the connection between tobacco use, COVID-19 and lung illnesses.

Every year, 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, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different environmental programs and projects all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity of their partnership with Altria, as well as additional support from Coca-Cola, WestRock and Keep America Beautiful.

Altria Logo

Coca-Cola Logo        WestRock Logo         

 

Cigarette Receptacles

Don’t Leave Your Butts Behind

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Cigarette ReceptaclesWe’re excited to announce today’s award of our 2021 Green Grants goes to the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office in Tazewell County, who will receive a grant award of $1000 for its Cigarette Litter Prevention project. We’ll be announcing one each day during the month of June.  

Every year, 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.

The Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office is a full service law enforcement agency that has developed a strong initiative to clean up Tazewell County. They have partnered with several Tazewell County civic organizations to create and support cleanup events.  Their “Don’t Leave Your Butts Behind” campaign will tackle the issue of cigarette butt litter.

The Sheriff’s Office will use their grant funds to purchase six cigarette butt receptacles to place at strategic points at county buildings.  By providing people with a place to properly dispose of cigarette butts, it will reduce the amount of cigarette butts being thrown on the ground.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve the natural and scenic environment.  Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different environmental programs and projects all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity of their partnership with Altria, as well as additional support from Coca-Cola, WestRock and Keep America Beautiful.

Altria Logo

Coca-Cola Logo        WestRock Logo         

 

KAB Litter Study

Roadway Litter Down 54% Since 2009

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Keep Virginia Beautiful is part of a network of 700 state and community-based affiliates of Keep America Beautiful®, who recently announced the summary of its 2020 study on litter in America.

The Keep America Beautiful 2020 National Litter Study provides a detailed understanding of the quantity, composition, and sources of litter across the United States. The organization’s 2020 study is a follow up to its landmark 2009 study, which builds on a history of science-based litter research started by Keep America Beautiful in 1969.

Key findings include:

  • Nearly 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. roadways and waterways
  • Slightly more litter along waterways (25.9B) than roadways (23.7B)
  • 152 items for each U.S. resident
  • More than 2,000 pieces of litter per mile (both roadway and waterway)
  • 90% of people surveyed believe litter is a problem in their state
  • 6 billion pieces more than 4 inches in size
  • Most littered item remains cigarette butts, although this litter is down almost 70%
  • 207.1M PPE items littered

Keep America Beautiful retained Burns & McDonnell, a leading environmental engineering firm, to conduct its 2020 Study, which has four components: Public Attitudes Survey, Visible Litter Survey, Behavioral Observations Survey, and Financial Cost of Litter Survey (ongoing).

Dr. Helen Lowman, Keep America Beautiful President and CEO said, “I am thrilled to continue the history of Keep America Beautiful as the leader in litter research in the United States, and methodology that has now been used around the world.  This data will help inform our programs for years to come addressing both litter on the ground and the act of littering.”

Sponsors of the Keep America Beautiful 2020 National Litter Study include dozens of individuals, corporations, industry groups, and foundations highlighting our belief in the strength of bringing everyone to the table. The largest supporters include Altria, American Beverage Association, American Chemistry Council, Dow, Food Packaging Institute, Garver Hilyard Black Foundation, National Association of Convenience Stores, Plastics Industry Association, and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco.

The full summary of the Keep America Beautiful® report is available here.

The good news is that litter IS solvable!  The 54% reduction in roadside litter since 2009 is phenomenal, and the 2009 study shows a 61% reduction since 1969.  We can work together to conquer the litter problem!  Visit our website for ways you can be involved, and take the pledge to put litter and recyclables in their place, reduce-reuse-refuse-recycle, and teach others to do the same!

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