The General Assembly has been extended and there are a few bills we’re hoping to see over the finish line.

Expanded Polystyrene Food and Beverage Containers: HB 1902 which bans Single Use Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), usually called Styrofoam, food and beverage containers has made it through the House. The bill will probably be heard early next week in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee. As you know from our many posts and pictures–we find so much EPS in our rivers and streams! Our colleagues at Environment Virginia have led the push to ban EPS food and beverage containers, even collecting more than 50,000 supporting signatures in Virginia! Use this link provided by Environment Virginia to tell your state senator to go foam free! You can read more about their Wildlife Over Waste campaign here. 

Intentional Balloon Releases: HB 2159 bans the intentional release of balloons. The balloon release bill is also set to be heard by the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee next week. Released balloons are killing wildlife, 51 species of seabirds are known to ingest balloon waste. Over 50% of all sea turtles have ingested plastic, often mistaking balloons and plastic bags as jellyfish, a favorite food source. Environment Virginia has provided a contact form to tell your state senator to save our wildlife from balloons!

For more detailed information on why Virginia needs to ban EPS food and beverage containers and intentional balloon releases, you can read this white paper we authored with Environment Virginia and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.

Tree Replacement and Conservation: SB 1393 Gives a locality the ability to exceed general requirements in its tree replacement and conservation ordinances. This bill also directs the development of a stakeholder group that will provide recommendations to the state and local governments to promote tree conservation during development. Increasing tree cover has wide ranging benefits; it helps to mitigate flooding, reduce pollution and litter runoff, improves soil quality, provides habitat for wildlife, increases property values, and improves air quality. This bill has passed the senate and has made it to the house floor.

Increased Littering Penalty: HB 1801 this bill increases the minimum fine for dumping or disposing of litter, trash, or other unsightly matter on public or private property from $250 to $500. Originally this bill would have increased the maximum fine from $2,500 to $5,000 and increased the number of community service from 10 hours to 40 hours in lieu of jail time. This bill has made it through the house and is waiting to be heard by the Senate Committee on Transportation. 

Chemical Conversion: SB 1164 that will classify chemical conversion as a manufacturing process instead of a Solid Waste facility /process will be heard by the House Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee next week. We’ve written extensively about this bill- for more detailed information about how the petrochemical industry, being led by the American Chemistry Council, is attempting to change Virginia’s laws to benefit powerful polluting corporations read our recent blog post and expect to hear more about it in the near future.