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Black kitten in pumpkin

It’s Scary!

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Black kitten in pumpkinIt’s frightening out there, and I’m not talking about the ghosts and goblin Halloween decorations.  It’s the menacing amount of litter in the landscape – the creepy discarded face masks in the parking lot, the chilling fast food wrappers, and the daunting task of cleaning it all up!

Why bother, you ask? Studies show that people are less likely to throw litter into clean, attractive, and beautified areas. (Keep America Beautiful 2009 Litter Study)

What can you do?  A lot!

  • The month of October has been declared “Lovers Not Litter” month for the Commonwealth – and it’s official: check out the Governor’s Proclamation!  We’re partnering with VDOT to spread the word that October is a great month to get outside and pick up litter, and you can help wherever you live or work. Take the pledge, and report the litter that you cleaned up.  Or play a fun game!
  • We give away cleanup kits to groups and individuals as time and funding allow.  We just completed our Summer giveaways, and our cupboards are bare.  We’re hosting a kit assembly day to get restocked.  If you’re in the Richmond area on Wednesday, October 27th, we need 10 volunteers.  You must sign up to be able to participate.
  • Volunteer with other groups to clean up! Check our Events Calendar for your what’s scheduled near you.  Also, we have several affiliate organizations across the state, take a look at their websites to see if there’s an activity going on that interests you!
  • Adopt-a-Highway!  It’s free, and you’ll be given supplies for litter cleanups, and when you do your part you’ll get a cool blue sign with your name, or your group’s name, or the name of someone you’d like to dedicate your efforts to.  To get started, simply contact your Adopt-a-Highway coordinator, call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) or send an e-mail to [email protected].  You can learn more about the program here.

So don’t be a scaredy-cat, get out there, take a bag or bucket with you, and safely pick up some litter!

Cigarette Fairy Poster

Spoiler Alert – There Is No Cigarette Fairy

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One of our affiliates, Keep Manassas Beautiful, launched a campaign suggesting that the “Cigarette Fairy” just can’t keep up with the most littered item in our landscape and storm drains.  The purpose of their campaign was to add a litter humor while engaging residents to improve their community through litter prevention.  With funding awarded by Keep Virginia Beautiful’s Green Grants, their first Cigarette Litter Prevention Program raised awareness of new littering ordinances, and reminded citizens about the proper way to dispose of their cigarette litter.

However, I’m sorry to say, there is no Cigarette Fairy.  There is no magic solution, folks.  Just common sense.  There’s so much we can do; there’s so much that YOU can do!  We hope that you’ll use our website as a resource for many things — to participate in events as they become available again, or Adopt-a-Highway to clean up a stretch of road (and get your name on a VDOT sign!), or support us financially so we can continue to educate the public and put the right tools in your hands.

Speaking of tools you can use, if you’re an adult smoker who would like a pocket ashtray, all you have to do is take the pledge not to litter, and we’ll send you one for free.  If you are the owner of a business or organization that would benefit from a Cigarette Butt Receptacle to deter cigarette litter, enter your name before August 31st to be included in our drawing for one of ten receptacles.

A Litter Study conducted by Keep America Beautiful revealed that smokers are more likely to litter if the environment contains any type of litter, not just cigarette butts. More littered environments encourage more littering.  A clean street, parking lot, playground, and community encourages others to behave responsibly.  Let us know that you would like to receive one of ten Cleanup Kits that we’re giving away this month!

*Credits for bringing the Cigarette Fairy to life go to the talented artistry of Heather Maltby-Goble’s and Evolution Printing.  See more about Keep Manassas Beautiful’s campaign.

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Augusta County is Awarded a Green Grant!

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Augusta County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, in Shenandoah Valley, will receive a grant award of $1000 for its Litter Prevention project.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for Augusta County offers first time offenders of certain non-violent criminal offenses the opportunity to volunteer for the Augusta County Litter Control Program for a specified number of hours. The program gives participants an alternative to criminal charges by working to remove roadside litter. They will track number of pre-charge participants, and their recidivism rate, as well as record the miles of road covered, and pounds of trash picked up.

Sounds like a win-win program that benefits the participants while promoting the environmental health of Augusta County!

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The First Green Grants Award Goes to…

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Today Keep Virginia Beautiful is awarding its first of it’s 30 in 30 Green Grants awards to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage.  They will receive a grant award of $1000 for their Litter Prevention project.

The Cedars Natural Area Preserve, the focus of their project, is roughly 2,200 acres of hidden wonder of Southwest Virginia that is home to over 80 rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species. The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Division of Natural Heritage will use this grant to clean up dump sites that have household waste, tires, metal and litter found in the Cedars Natural Area Preserve. Cleaning these tracts makes these areas more accessible, and more pleasing to lead guided hikes and educational opportunities, while helping to preserve one of Virginia’s precious natural resources.

Congratulations!  Good luck with your cleanup efforts!