Bussin (definition) Know what’s trending (other than the word “bussin”)? Using recycled materials in goods. From yoga pants, to deck chairs, to plastic bottles with minimum recycled content, brands are hopping on the “green” bandwagon to give the people what they want. With increases in demands for recycled plastic, bottle bills seem like a wonderful solution. …

Recent news highlights plastic pollution challenges in Virginia and gives insight on the work being done, as well as what more be done. This article notes 60% to 80% of trash in Earth’s oceans comes from our behavior on land and while this is absolutely true, there are intricacies at work when looking at plastic, …

Federal Funding The  Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) largest ever proposed budget, set at $11.2 billion, includes $10 million in grants for initiatives surrounding recycling innovation. These grants would aim to assist municipal governments with their recycling programs, in addition to providing aid for improving local waste systems. If Congress passes this budget later in the …

Top notch greenhouse gas results post-pandemic Did you know, greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. CO₂) dropped 33% during the pandemic? According to new research, levels of carbon dioxide (a problem child greenhouse gas) fell drastically in both Los Angeles and Washington D.C./ Baltimore. This may not come as a surprise to you, as people weren’t able …

Plastic Pollution in Your Backyard! Have you ever wondered what your county’s most polluted plastic product is? If you live in Fairfax County, plastic bags are the top litter offender! What’s more, plastic bags are 1) notoriously hard to recycle (1-3% recycled per year) and 2) millions of dollars in each state are spent cleaning …

…but so do insecticides for local pollinators! According to recent news, Prince William’s County has recently found evidence of West Nile virus in local mosquitoes. The city is applying insecticides to target adult mosquitos and Public Works continues to monitor for further cases. What’s more, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) monitors cases found in …

Do we know the difference between trash and treasure? Goodwill has a message for people making donations– stop donating your trash! While it doesn’t feel great to throw away things we’ve bought, pawning off your trash (or things you don’t use in bad condition) is never the answer. Making these “donations” may make you feel …

Using science to go back in time Using museum specimens dating back to 1900, scientists recently found plastics in fish stomachs starting in 1950 and increasing with time to today. Small plastics have been found across many species in different places, but this research is the first of its kind– studying how small plastics change …

Local news, first! Roanoke became the first local government in Virginia to implement a plastic bag ordinance starting January 1, 2022! According to the legislation, it aims to curb street litter, protect waterways, minimize solid waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Single use plastic shopping bags are all over in our local, Fairfax county streams; …

Rescued turtles alert! 826 turtles, to be exact! These diamondback terrapin hatchlings were rescued from a storm drain in Jersey Shore by a group from Stockton University. Rescuers were looking for animals in need when they came across all these turtles and think these hatchlings were hiding out in the warm drain to avoid cold …