Menu

LOVE VA

Students posing with bags of litter they cleaned up

Virginians Make a Strong Showing for Fall Cleanups

, , , , , , ,

Students posing with bags of litter they cleaned upBefore Winter arrives, we want to share the results of a very successful Fall LOVE VA cleanup campaign!

We know that there are many people that care about the natural and scenic environment of Virginia, and 673 of them volunteered to clean up along our roads, and hiking trails, in  neighborhoods, shopping centers, and parks to pick up litter and recyclable items.  From the cleanup reports we received during the LOVE VA campaign, they picked up 657 bags of litter, 50 bags of recyclables, and volunteered a whopping 1,692 hours!  Thank you, thank you!

Among those cleaning up were seven of our Student Ambassadors for Virginia’s Environment, working to accomplish one of their two required cleanups towards their successful completion of the SAVE program.  We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm and dedication of the 50 high school Juniors and Seniors in the 2024-25 school year program.  In fact, the students have logged 130 volunteer hours themselves with the work that they’re doing for the program.

Other highlights include efforts by our Keep America Beautiful state affiliates and other allied partners:

  • Naturally Newport News hosted a roadside cleanup to pick up 55 bags of litter and 2 bags of recyclables, using a team of 68 volunteers who gave 136 total hours of work
  • Keep Hopewell Beautiful conducted 5 cleanups in neighborhoods, parks, and roadsides.  They also installed plants and improved the landscape at the Route 10 gateway as a beautification project, in addition to 2 cleanups by the Hopewell Lions Club
  • Lynnhaven NOW in Virginia Beach hosted 4 cleanups that mobilized 116 volunteers
  • Lake Anna Civic Association reported 8 cleanups that netted 189 bags of trash and 23 bags of recyclables, spending 208 volunteer hours!

Thank you to the many individuals who also contributed many hours of hard work!  And if you missed the article about the great work done to continue with the  landscaping beautification project at Canoe Run Park, you can read about it here.

Our organization runs on people power, and we’re grateful for all the effort made to clean up the roadways, waterways, parks, and neighborhoods in the Commonwealth!

Dog on a leash looking up at someone

Pickup with Pups is September 15th

, , , ,

Dog on a leash looking up at someonePickup with Pups is an event hosted by Keep Virginia Beautiful and the Richmond SPCA. Volunteers who regularly walk pups from the Richmond SPCA in the Diamond District noticed accumulation of litter in the landscape, and knew it would benefit from a litter cleanup.

So why not give a little love to the neighborhood, while showing off the pups that are looking for their forever person to love?  It’s all part of a kickoff for the Keep Virginia Beautiful’s LOVE VA Fall litter cleanup campaign!

Mark your calendar now for Sunday, September 15, 2020 from 10am – noon at the Richmond SPCA, 2519 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA 23220.

During the cleanup, you will get to mix and mingle with some of the Richmond SPCA’s most eligible canine bachelors and bachelorettes of the season.  There will be plenty of tail wagging, exercising, and fresh air while cleaning up our natural environment.

You don’t need to bring anything!  All the necessary equipment will be provided.  Just dress for the weather, wear comfortable footwear, and bring a refillable water bottle.

Registration is required for this fun event:  Keep Virginia Beautiful: Pickup with Pups Fall 2024 (signupgenius.com)  We’ll reach out to you with more details!

Our annual LOVE VA anti-litter campaign is a state-wide effort to beautify the Commonwealth from September 15 – November 15 each year. It provides a platform, resources, and incentives to engage individuals and groups to make their communities cleaner, greener, and more beautiful. Fall is a great time for litter cleanups, tree plantings, recycling drives, and other community improvement activities."Let's Shake on It" You come out to play with me, and I'll walk with you when you pick up ltter; human hand holding a dog's paw

Last year, we had 44 litter cleanups reported from across the state, that used 488 volunteers!  They picked up 711 bags of litter, of which 62 bags were recyclable items), and planted 50 trees!

The Richmond SPCA was founded in 1891, is a nonprofit organization, and since 2002 has been a no-kill society.  Last week alone,  August 26 – September 1, 2024, they found homes for 72 pets!

There’s a lot to love about cleaning up our communities, and there’s going to be a lot of love shared with the adorable, adoptable dogs with our Pickup With Pups cleanup event! Hope to see you there!

Logo for LOVE VA anti-litter campaign

Person picking up litter

Apply for Green Gift Giveaways by October 15

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Person picking up litterWe hope that you’ve had time to get together with your family, friends, and community to make a positive impact with our LOVE VA campaign this Fall.  Would the use of a large dumpster spur your community into action?  Especially if you live in an area that has a problem with illegal dumping, and you want to be rid of that abandoned plaid couch or discarded construction debris from the creek.  Do you know the perfect place to install a pet waste station so that people have easy access to compostable pet waste bags while they’re walking their pooch?  We want to help with these and other challenges!

We’re giving away Green Gifts as part of our 70th Anniversary celebration that could be helpful to your neighborhood, business, or faith community cleanup efforts.

Need a dumpster to clean up large items?
Apply for the free use of a roll off dumpster delivered to your site.

Need recycling bins to corral recyclable items?
Apply for a set of six blue bins.

Need a cigarette litter receptacle to curb cigarette butt litter?
Apply for a of Cigarette Litter Prevention Package that includes cigarette butt receptacles for the wall, car, and pocket

Need a way to encourage pet owners to properly dispose of doggie doo?
Apply for a pet waste station to install in an area frequented by dog walkers.

Need to beautify a gathering space?
Apply for a Trex bench.

Here are some tips on planning a neighborhood, subdivision, or block cleanup:

  • Choose your location: decide which streets you’ll clean within the neighborhood, and consider adding safe main roads that are adjacent to the neighborhood, as well as any playgrounds or other areas of need.
  • Choose a date and get the word out: use any social media accounts your neighborhood shares, such as a neighborhood Facebook page or Nextdoor.com; have kids make posters to hang in public spaces, or to hand out.
  • Get volunteers: ask residents to chat with neighbors in next door households to encourage participation; get the kids and their friends involved in the event, they’ll be happier working together.
  • Ask volunteers to bring their own water bottles and buckets or trash bags.
  • Make arrangements for a way to properly dispose of litter and recycling that’s collected, and opt for a dumpster if your cleanup involves large items, such as removing tires from a creek or abandoned household goods.

On the day of the event:

  • Have bins or boxes out to collect recyclable items that are picked up during a litter cleanup.
  • Offer a “Leave One/Take One” table of usable items to swap.
  • Ask volunteers who aren’t able to participate in the cleanup activities to bring a carton of ice cream or topping and set up an ice cream sundae buffet at the end of the day to show your appreciation!

After the event:

  • Report your results to us! We collect data to learn about efforts being made across the state.
  • If you report your results during our LOVE VA Fall cleanup campaign (October 1 – November 15) you’ll be entered to win a prize!

Please know that the cleanup efforts you make DO matter.  Clean spaces often attract less litter and crime, and offer a more enjoyable place for wildlife and humans to visit.  Thank you for caring about the natural and scenic environment of Virginia!

 

LOVE VA logo with Virginia mountains and sky

LOVE VA this Fall

, , , ,

LOVE VA logo with Virginia mountains and skyAhhh, the weather is cooler, the humidity is lower, and there are so many fun things to do in the Fall!  One of the things we can do after we see the last 90° day in the rearview mirror is enjoy being outside.  From the beaches to the mountains, there’s so much to see and do in Virginia.

One of the things we hope you’ll do is join us for our LOVE VA Fall cleanup campaign!  Litter in the landscape mars our beautiful scenery and has a negative impact on neighborhoods, businesses, and recreation.  According to an analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey, the presence of litter is associated with lower levels of neighborhood and home satisfaction.   The “broken windows theory” states that visible signs of disorder and misbehavior in an environment encourage further disorder and misbehavior, leading to serious crimes.  Cleaning up litter is not just a nice thing to do, it has a serious impact on your community.

Bags of trash from litter cleanupIf you’re looking to join in a litter cleanup, check out our Events Calendar to see what’s happening around the state. Or plan a cleanup with your family, neighbors, Scouts, or other groups.  Visit the list of our local Affiliates to discover events they’re hosting where you live. And you can always get a bucket and head out on your own to clean up a litter hot spot.

THEN REPORT the results of your effort to us!  When you submit a report, your name will be entered to win some fun PRIZES!  We’ll be giving away Litter Cleanup Kits, At-Home Sustainability Sampler Kits, Personal Care Sustainability Sampler Kits, and On-the-Go Sustainability Sampler Kits.  You can learn more about our prizes by visiting our Litter Prevention webpage.

For our 70th anniversary this year, our goal is to have at least 70 reports submitted, with at least 700 bags of litter picked up over the course of the event.

Be sure to check out our LOVE VA webpage and start reporting your cleanups or other activities to be entered to win prizes!