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Midnight on a watch face

Time to Say Goodbye to 2020!

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Yes, there were many things that did not happen during this strange COVID year of 2020.  But we’re happy to say that for our organization, some very important things did take place.

We heard from many of our Adopt-a-Highway permit holders who continue to be Highway Heroes as they clean up litter from miles and miles highway.  While some were groups were challenged by the restrictions of social distancing, some are families that have adopted a road near their residence and were able to pick up litter more often while working from home.  Thank you, thank you, thank you permit holders!  (Learn more about adopting a highway – it’s free and easy to do!)

With the support of our sponsors, Altria, Coca-Cola, and Keep America Beautiful, we were able to continue with our tenth year of our 30 in 30 Green Grants program.  We awarded thirty grants to groups all across the Commonwealth (check out the map to see where they are!), and they’ve done powerful things for their communities.

To highlight just a few results from the Green Grants awards, Augusta County Litter Control Program cleaned up 30 miles of roadway, picking up 116 bags of litter!  Tech for Troops received over 6,000 desktops, monitors, electronic parts and other electronics that were sorted and recycled responsibly.  Halifax County Quality of Place Work Group distributed 348 reusable produce bags at their farmer’s market.  And Friends of Bryan Park installed five recycling bins in areas of the park that were most likely to have cans and bottles in their trash receptacles.  You can read more about all of the Green Grants projects.

Our state Affiliates have also had many accomplishments during 2020.  Keep Chesapeake Beautiful was able to install 24 outdoor cigarette butt receptacles at their City Hall Complex.  That ought to reduce cigarette butt litter!  And the Hampton Clean City Commission hosted a coastal cleanup in November that cleaned up 53 miles, resulting in 783 pounds of litter and debris being removed from the streets, shorelines, and water – wow!  Learn more about all of our Affiliates here.

So there were some good things happening in 2020, and we’re grateful to all who are out there cleaning up and caring about the natural and scenic environment of Virginia.  We’re looking forward to more good things in 2021!

Hands with Hearts

What Does Giving Get?

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Giving is one activity that hasn’t been canceled this year!

You may be aware that #GivingTuesday is this week, December 1st.  But you don’t have to wait for a special Tuesday to make a donation.  As a nonprofit that cares about Virginia’s natural and scenic environment, we are challenged to remove litter from our landscape (especially PPE), improve recycling, and beautify communities.  We continue to safely conduct cleanups during this challenging time, and are doing everything we can to carry out our mission.

But we need your help.  Please support us with a donation today!  And if you do, we want to give you something special!

For every donation to Keep Virginia Beautiful of $100 or more, you will receive (or you can send as a gift) a Deluxe Cleanup Kit, while supplies last!  Similar group kits were very popular during our recent Cleanup Kit Giveaway, with people asking how they could get their hands on one if their name wasn’t drawn to win a kit.  So we thought we’d offer an individual kit as a way to help you help us!

The Deluxe Cleanup Kit includes: one sturdy Arcmate trash grabber, a Class III safety vest, trash bags, recycling bags, and a pair of cotton work gloves.  That’s everything you need to make your litter cleanups safer and easier!

With all the restrictions that 2020 has placed on us, going outdoors for fresh air and exercise is still possible with our mild Virginia climate.  If you take a bag with you to pick up any litter and recyclables you come across, you’ll be doing something good for yourself and your community.

On another giving note, have you heard that the IRS is giving taxpayers a break?  The CARES Act changes deducting charitable contributions made in 2020.  Taxpayers who do not itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualifying organizations.  Details available from the IRS.

Puppy with toy

Coping with COVID Sustainably

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Puppy with toyYou probably see littered face masks in parking lots everywhere, and it probably makes you just as disappointed as we are, when a solution is so simple:  use a cloth face mask that can be washed and worn over and over again!  It’s even more economical in the long run.  It’s obvious that we’re going to be wearing face masks for many more months, so get some stylish masks to add to your wardrobe.  Virginia Taylors in Arlington, Virginia makes beautiful, colorful, washable cloth masks.  Check them out!

Another problem that’s annoying is that many of us are getting plastic grocery bags when we use curbside pickup.  Some stores are collecting used plastic bags for recycling, which of course is one of the best things you can do.  But you can also re-purpose those bags by cutting them into strips, called “Plarn”, and braiding, weaving, crocheting, or knitting them into reusable totes and mats.  Some people are making mats for pets, or donating them to organizations to distribute to the homeless for sleeping mats.

Speaking of pets, have you been cleaning out your closets and drawers?  It’s easy to make no-cost fun toys for pets.  After all, they’re probably bored at home with you too!  An old sock and a water bottle can turn into a new distraction for your dog.  Old jeans can be cut up and braided into a tug toy.  There are so many possibilities for DIY pet toys.

And what about exercising for yourself?  After months of working from home, often being surrounded by family at all hours, get outside while the weather still is pretty nice!  Studies show that getting outside for some fresh air and a change of scenery can lower your blood pressure, and is just as good for your mental health as your physical health.  And don’t forget to take a trash bag with you!  Picking up litter burns more calories than just taking a stroll on its own, so they say.

So do something good for yourself, AND good for the environment.  We can still be sustainable while coping with COVID.

Cleanup Kit

Cleanup Kit Winners Announced

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Thank you to everyone who is participating in our Cleanup Kit Giveaway!  It’s good to know that many people care about litter in our landscapes and on our roads.  The comments have been encouraging too, when asked to tell why they would like a kit:

“We have a date scheduled with our employees of to clean up our road that our factory is on.”

“To help my scouts pick up trash safer.”

“The cleanup kit will help my sorority sisters and I to reach and pickup trash along our stretch of adopted highway.”

What is your why?  Tell us why you would like to have a Cleanup Kit, and enter your name for the September drawing!

Congratulations to our August Cleanup Kit Winners:

Jennifer A. of Wytheville
Jennifer P. of Richmond
Lauren C. of Surry
Jim C. of Mechanicsville
John S. of Cross Junction
Katelyn P. of Montclair
Kathi H. of Round Hill
Roxanne W. of Montross
Harbans S. of Herndon
Jim H. of Keswick

We appreciate your work to improve our natural and scenic environment!

Pocket Ashtray

What Is CLPP?

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The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP) was created by Keep America Beautiful® in 2002, and is the nation’s largest program aimed at eliminating cigarette litter.

As an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, here at Keep Virginia Beautiful we follow their guidelines and use their model to conduct our Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.  An effective CLPP includes four proven, field-tested solutions or strategies for reducing cigarette butt litter:

–  Encourage enforcement of litter laws, including cigarette litter;
–  Raise awareness about the issue using public service messages;
–  Place ash receptacles at transition points such as entrances to public buildings; and
–  Distribute pocket or portable ashtrays to adult smokers.

Here’s where you come in!  We’re giving away ten cigarette butt receptacles during the month of August to public or private businesses who will place them (and maintain them) in appropriate areas for smokers to use.  All you need to do is enter your name on this form before midnight August 31, 2020.  A receptacle will be shipped directly to you!  Then YOU can start making a difference in your community.

On a more individual level, if you or someone you know is an adult smoker, we are giving away a pocket ashtray to anyone who requests one, while supplies last.  Simply go to our website to take the pledge to Keep Virginia Beautiful by disposing of your cigarette butts responsibly, and give us your name and mailing address on the form provided.  We will mail you a pocket ashtray!

These are simple but effective steps that you can take to do something about the challenges of cigarette butt litter in our landscape.

And speaking of litter, you can also enter the drawing for a Cleanup Kit that includes six trash grabbers, bags for trash and recycling, safety guidelines, gloves, and a hand scale.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity for your family, neighborhood, place of worship, nonprofit, or business — we’re giving away ten during the month of August!

Woman and Earth

People Who Care

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Trash grabbers, trash & recycling bags, gloves, hand scaleWe want to get cleanup tools in your hands so that you can help us tackle the litter problem – the fast food bags, the water bottles, and especially the cigarette butts!  We know that you care!

That’s why we are giving away ten Cleanup Kits to those who entered their name for the Cleanup Kit Giveaway during the month of July.  The ten people who will receive a Cleanup Kit are:

Eric N., Blackstone
Lisa P., Newport News
Kevin C., Harrisonburg
Patty K., Doswell
Jessica G., Richmond
Amy C., Ark
Cameron S., Woodbridge
Sheri C., Charlottesville
Tarek M., Roanoke
Helen K., Virginia Beach

Congratulations!  We will ship the Cleanup Kits (with six litter grabbers, trash bags, recycling bags, disposable gloves, safety guidelines, hand scale, and KVB stickers) to you next week.

Here’s some more good news– we’re going to continue giving away ten more Cleanup Kits in August!  Enter your name now!

And since cigarette butts are the most frequently littered item, we want to help people properly dispose of their cigarette butts.  If you have a business or work with a business or public space where cigarette litter is a problem, submit your name to be entered in a drawing for a cigarette butt receptacle.  Then make the commitment to make a difference!  Ten names will be chosen this month to receive a standing receptacle shipped directly to you at no cost.

Trash grabbers, trash & recycling bags, gloves, hand scale

Cleanup Kits are Ready!

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We want to say THANK YOU! to the volunteers who came out to help us sort out supplies and assemble Cleanup Kits!  They are ready to be shipped to ten names that will be drawn at the end of July.  We are also grateful for the support of Altria and HandsOn, who make this program possible.  These are people and organizations that truly care about the scenic and natural environment of our Commonwealth, and their help is going to bring about change.

That’s the one thing that’s going to affect the Litter Tide — when individual behavior changes.  One way to do that is ongoing litter cleanups.  Littered environments attract more litter.  Another way is to have attractive and well-maintained landscaping to set a community standard.  Neighborhoods that make an effort to “beautify” promote a sense of personal responsibility not to litter.

That’s why we are giving away Cleanup Kits, to give you the ability to get out there and safely pick up litter from the roadways and landscape.  You can have an impact on people’s behavior.

We pose a question on our Cleanup Kit entry form that asks what people hope to accomplish with a Cleanup Kit, and the responses have been so encouraging!!  Here are some good ones:

“People are disposing of their masks and gloves in parking lots. I would love to clean this mess up.”

“I cannot stand to see the irresponsibility of some, to ruin the beauty of our earth.”

“Every grabber is a catalyst to build a community of stewards who will work to leave our city cleaner and safer than ever, protecting the local environment.”  Whoa, well said!

And here’s a great one:

“As an earth-loving, litter-despising eco citizen, I would be honored to use your cleanup kits to help keep our environment beautiful.”

What would YOU hope to accomplish with a Cleanup Kit?  Fill out a form and let us know!

Trash grabbers, trash & recycling bags, gloves, hand scale

Get Your Cleanup Kit!

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Litter is out there, more than ever, but what can you do about it?

Littered environments attract more litter.  If there’s already disposable food packaging and coffee cups on the ground at the perimeter of a parking lot, for example, people are more inclined to leave their litter on the ground too.  But if the parking area does not have litter on the ground, people are more likely to take a look around for a trash can to properly dispose of their trash when they finish their lunch.

Litter in recreation areas is evenly split between items over four inches and smaller items. Most litter that is larger than four inches is food-related, including packaging and food waste. Whereas most of the litter in recreation areas that is smaller than four inches is cigarette butts.

Tackling the litter problem requires a change in behavior.  You can be the change, and we want to help you get started!  We’re giving away ten Cleanup Kits this month!  Each Kit has six trash grabbers, trash bags, recycling bags, gloves, and a scale to measure your accomplishments!  We will choose ten names from all those entered on or before July 31st and ship a kit directly to them. Just enter your name on the form, and tell us what you hope to do if you receive a Cleanup Kit!

Grabbers Pic Square

Cleanup Kit Giveaway!

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As we find ourselves in times full of uncertainty,
we can find peace in the things we can control.
Litter is one of them. Be a part of the solution!

Are you ready to take control of your corner of the world to tackle the litter problem?  We want to help you get started!  We’re giving away ten Cleanup Kits this month!  Each Kit has six trash grabbers, trash bags, recycling bags, gloves, and a scale to measure your accomplishments!  We will choose ten names from all those entered on or before July 31st and ship a kit directly to them. Just enter your name on the form, and tell us what you hope to do if you receive a Cleanup Kit!

Litter prevention and litter abatement are areas where we have control over our behavior, one that can have a serious impact on our environment.  Litter isn’t just a messy bad habit, it affects our health and the communities where we live.

We can prevent litter by properly disposing or recycling our food containers.  We can bring re-usable produce bags to the store instead of using the single-use plastic bags they provide.  We can recycle our drive-through coffee cup, our Amazon boxes, and our plastic bottles.  Better yet, learn more about Plastic Free July!

We can pick up litter in our neighborhoods, parking lots, and public parks.  Being mindful of COVID restrictions, we can clean up the landscape with our family members, or join others at a social distance. Use gloves and grabbers to avoid contact with litter.  And remember that PPE is not recyclable, littered masks and gloves must go in the trash.  Need inspiration?  Check out the Great American Cleanup® to see what you can do to help!

And if you’re an Adopt-a-Highway permit holder, have your group spread out, or go at alternate times to clean up the road you’ve adopted.  If you haven’t volunteered to adopt a highway – why not join?  Learn more about Adopt-a-Highway, it’s free and easy to accomplish.

What are you doing about litter?  We’d love to hear about the Beautiful things that are going on in communities all across the Commonwealth.  And don’t forget to take the pledge to promise not to litter!

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Keep Suffolk Beautiful Awarded $500 for Litter Prevention

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Keep Suffolk Beautiful promotes public interest in the general improvement of the environment, and coordinates programs for litter control. Due to recent events and the possibility that social distancing will continue for a period of time, KSB will create cleanup kits so that families in the community will have the tools needed to clean up safely.

Grant funds will be used to purchase cleanup supplies for the kits, such as grabbers, vests, gloves, and trash bags. Families will complete an application to obtain a kit, and agree to report cleanup activity to the Litter Control Office. Keep Suffolk Beautiful will share their pictures on social media to raise awareness of litter prevention, and praise volunteer efforts in the fight against litter.

Keep Suffolk Beautiful believes that each of us holds an obligation to preserve and protect our environment.  That’s an idea everyone can support!

 

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