Ever struggle to remember your reusable bags? #SAME. We have a fool-proof way to never be caught empty handed (or worse, hands full of plastic!!) again. 

Step 1: Keep your reusable bags in your car if you drive to the grocery stores; or, keep your bags near your keys if you walk!

Step 2: Load up your groceries into your swag bags, then get them ready for the journey home. 

Step 3: After unloading your groceries at home, hang your empty bags on the door so you remember to take them out to your car next time you go out! Or, keep near the door for your next walk to the store.

If you still don’t have a Halloween costume ready for this weekend, think green when it comes to your last minute getup. This article dives into 1) how Americans will spend $3.32 billion on costumes this year, 2) how many of these costumes are “disposable” and made primarily of plastic, and 3) what kinds of alternative costume solutions are out there so we aren’t part of the pollution. From using what you already have in your closet, buying second hand, or making a costume yourself, there are many possibilities when it comes to our Halloween ensemble. 

If you already have a costume, or aren’t planning on dressing up, consider diving into the dark side of Halloween. Our favorite chocolates often have ingredients (e.g. palm oil) that contribute to deforestation and climate change. We can consider alternative brands or candy options to make our treats less tricky. Check out the Sierra Club’s article from 2019 for rainforest safe Halloween candy options. Have a sustainable and spooky Halloween celebration!

Imperfect is perfectly fine as far as the environment is concerned and some progress is better than no progress at all! So join us in committing to Plastic Free July to do our small part in reducing our environmental impact.

Eliminating single-use plastics in your daily life can be as simple as utilizing a reusable water bottle and grocery bags. But, as this 2019 article discusses, banishing ALL plastics from your life can be a challenge. So many products ingrained in our routines are wrapped up in plastic.  Looking at the extent of plastic pollution worldwide, we know that this problem didn’t arise overnight and is decades in the making. I find it interesting to reflect on how plastic became the status quo for products to situate our understanding of the past and future of plastic use.

Before World War Two and the Great Depression, plastic products were not ingrained so deeply in day to day life and reusable products were just regular products. Plastic was initially necessary during these eras as it substituted for scarce natural resources during the war and plastic production assisted the economy in it’s recovery by providing a inexpensive, safe, and sanitary material. It was dire need that invented and implemented this material and we have not revisited its widespread use in decades. From history, we find evidence that it is possible to reduce the use of these products and more efficiently utilize continuous cycles of use with modern technology. 

What’s important to consider, as we participate in this month of plastic pollution awareness, is that we aren’t the one ones producing this plastic in the first place. This article discusses how just a handful of companies are the ones contributing the majority (55%) of the world’s plastic waste. This means, even if every person was perfectly prohibiting plastic from their lives, our actions wouldn’t be enough to completely address plastic pollution.

Plastic Free July is not only about reducing single-use plastics in our daily life, but also a time for us to reflect on how we can pressure systems to reduce the production of these problematic plastics in the first place.

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 better about your consumption, but ends up costing these organizations thousands of dollars each year. Also, is it fair to think we are helping people who rely on these organizations for discounted goods by giving them things even we would not use anymore? News from both this month and years ago similarly stress trash being donated is a problem and demonstrate this issue is not new. After coming across Goodwill’s statement, I am more intentional about sifting through my donations before I drop them off.

Investing and Protecting

The Department of Energy recently announced an astounding budget of up to $14.5 million for research and development to cut waste and reduce the energy required to recycle single-use plastics (i.e. plastic bags, wraps, and films). These solutions incentivize investing in recycling technologies and creating recycling jobs in the United States, and ultimately reduce the amount of plastics that end up in the environment. 

Funding recycling technologies to streamline and increase efficiency would keep plastic out of the environment. We see evidence of our failed recycling industry in the new research out every week. New results this week are yet another example of just how far reaching single-use plastic pollution is, yet again. Scientists out of the Galapagos have shown hotspots of litter in key habitats coming from ocean currents. The lead scientist, Dr. Jones, stated,

“Given the level of pollution we have found in this remote location, it’s clear that plastic pollution needs to stop at source. You can’t fix the problem just by cleaning beaches.”

The Galapagos Islands are famous for being the birthplace of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and home to the “Godzilla” marine iguana. Keeping our trash (specifically, single-use plastics) out of the environment is only possible with adequate waste and recycling services for all people. The Department of Energy’s willingness to invest in research and development could lead to technologies necessary to stop plastic pollution at the source.

They won’t stop until the well runs dry (or until a cease and desist order is approved)

The battle between a bottled water company, Nestle, and local environmentalists continues as the community waits to see if a cease and desist order filed against Nestle is approved by the California Water Resources Control Board. According to an environmental group, Nestle has extracted, on average, 25 times more water than its water rights allow; this has ravaged the local ecosystem and taken valuable resources away from the drought stricken land. Check out this article to learn more about the ongoing battle taking place in California, as well as many other states.

Nuisance algal traps microplastics in the Great Lakes

A special kind of algae in the great lakes tangles microplastics, causing microplastics to be suspended in water for longer and is an entry point for microplastics into the food chain. This recent discovery by scientists, however, sheds promising light on how future technologies could trap and remove microplastics from important freshwater resources, like the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes provides drinking water for 30 million people and microplastics have been found in products that use the water as a resource (such as beer). Check out the article for more background on microplastics and algae in the Great Lakes.

Waste has a bad wrap (and consumers care)

According to recent news, consumers are increasingly concerned about the waste generated from fast-food and willing to use returnable or reusable containers at fast food restaurants. The article discusses how young people are paying attention to businesses sustainability practices and how these consumers change their opinions based on eco-friendly initiatives. Currently, most fast food waste ends up in landfills, or worse, as litter. Fast food wrappers are one of the biggest culprits making up urban litter. This is problematic because the majority of the waste associated with the fast food industry is recyclable– this article discusses how about 85% of fast food waste could have been recycled or composted. It’s time to rethink waste in the United States, and this news sheds light on how consumer behavior is opening up to green possibilities.

Are you looking for a way serve your community and get outside? This Saturday we’ll be on Upper Long Branch in Bailey’s Crossroads hosting our final sponsored community clean up of the calendar year. This is a great opportunity for kids that need community service hours for school or anyone who wants to improve the health of our watershed!

Upper Long Branch flows into Four Mile Run which is a tributary of the Potomac. If the plastic and other litter is left there it will make its way to the Chesapeake Bay and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean.

The clean up will go from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and we’ll meet at the end of Magnolia Ave. in Falls Church. The easiest way to find it is to put the intersection of Glen Carlyn Rd. and Magnolia Ave. into your GPS and then follow Magnolia down until the end and park on the side of the street. (There are some screenshots of the map at the bottom of this post.)

Upper Long Branch is a rocky, shallow creek so hard rubber boots that can get wet and muddy are highly recommended! We’ll provide all the clean up supplies- bags, gloves, and some trash grabbers. Please bring your own reusable water bottle, we will have a water jug on hand for refills!

If you have question about the clean up please email cfc@cleanfairfax.org. We are looking forward to seeing everyone Saturday morning!

We want to call attention to a number of exciting opportunities and requests related to litter clean up throughout the greater Fairfax community:

• Are you looking to join an organized clean up? Clean Fairfax is hosting a community stream clean up in Bailey’s Crossroads on November 9^th. If you’re interested in volunteering for the day please let us know! We’ll release the exact location when we get closer to the date. I grew up in Bailey’s and this clean up is particularly important to me. This creek is where my friends and I would explore and where our appreciation of the natural world was fostered as kids. The wildlife has largely disappeared and has been replaced by litter. Come out and help us bring wildlife back to Bailey’s Crossroads creeks! This is the last Clean Fairfax sponsored clean up of the calendar year so get your community service hours in for school now!

• Have you noticed a recurring litter hotspot in your neighborhood? We want to help your community find permanent solutions. We will help you find the sources of the litter and develop strategies your community can implement to solve the problem.

• Do you want to host your own community clean up? Supporting county-wide cleanups by individuals, groups, schools, churches, and businesses is one of the most important aspects of our work. Go to https://cleanfairfax.orgprograms-events/community-clean-up-program/ and fill out the form and we’ll give you all the supplies you’ll need for free! All you need to do to schedule your own clean up is find your own clean up location, pick a day, gather a few volunteers, and let us know of your plans. In selecting the site for your clean up we recommend going about a mile each direction from your home, work, school, or church. The supplies include 30-gallon trash bags, gloves, clear bags for recyclables (upon request), safety vests (upon request), safety tips, and any other supplies that we might have to support the cleanup. Please try to give us 10 business days to get your supplies to you.

And finally, if you want to document litter you find when out and about around Fairfax County or across Virginia, share your pictures on social media using #litterfreeva. Sharing pictures with this hashtag helps us track litter throughout the county and across the Commonwealth.

As the weather begins to cool and you’re looking for some late season paddling, camping, or hiking to see the leaves changing colors, a little upfront planning can make your trip both zero waste and lots of fun. I spend a lot of time looking for adventure while paddling on the Potomac or walking Shenandoah with my dog and know how quickly a day can be ruined by coming across a stash of plastic bags or food wrappers. Natural spaces are a shared resource and we should all look to protect them, utilizing Leave no Trace principles. In that spirit, I’m going to share a few tips, tricks, and products I’ve used over the years to minimize my impact when I venture into the outdoors.

Planning Ahead
Planning ahead is critical to a zero waste adventure. When I’m getting ready for a day outside, my planning doesn’t just include figuring out where I’m going and getting my gear ready. The process includes being methodical about how I’m going to pack my food and water for the day. My goal when I leave my apartment is to not stop until I reach my destination so that means no stops for snacks or coffee at a gas station or roadside market that often rely on non-compostable material. Preparing all of my food the night before leaves more time for fun on the day of, and it also enables me to not bring any single use items out into the woods.

Food Storage
I start the day by making my coffee and putting it in my reusable mug which keeps the coffee hot longer and helps avoid a mid-drive pit stop. After the coffee is ready, I pull all of the food I prepared the night before out of the fridge and put it in my pack. My adventure lunch always contains at least one peanut butter and jelly sandwich, trail mix, and some fruit. To avoid single use plastic, I use a silicone option instead. There are a lot of brands out there and I use Stasher Bags to carry everything! Stasher bags are great for every day use – not just for weekend warriors! One Silicone Stasher Bag can eliminate hundreds of Ziploc bags from a waste stream.

Water
Anytime I go into the woods I have to bring enough water for myself and my dog, and we both have way more fun when we’re hydrated. My adventure days, just like my work days, start by filling up my 64 ounce Hydroflask water bottle. When we’re out on a hike, the big bottle stays in the car and then we have nice cold water for our trip home. I carry two 32 ounce Hydroflasks in my day pack so Buddy and I are always well hydrated. If I’m in my kayak, the 64 ounce bottle comes along for the ride and stays cold even in the sun.

We may leave many of the conveniences of home behind when we head out looking for adventure, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be conscious of the impact single use plastic can have on the outdoors. A little bit of planning can keep you and your four legged companions well fed and hydrated without leaving behind litter for other outdoor enthusiasts to find.

We recently met the outreach coordinator of a local foodbank and she wanted to know how she could help her foodbank lower their environmental footprint. She invited us out to see the foodbank and the first thing we noticed was the incredible work they are doing for their community. They provide food and household products which can’t be purchased with food stamps to food insecure families every month. Their foodbank is set up like a grocery store allowing customers to shop as they would in a grocery store. During the previous month alone, the foodbank distributed 3,047 plastic bags to hold the products they make available to community members. We immediately realized the significant opportunity this provided us to make a lasting difference in the community and set out to find an alternative.

To provide families with a strong, viable alternative that allowed them to participate in the broader waste reduction movement, we bought the foodbank 3,000 reusable shopping bags, with a simple message on the bags, “Fill Me Up, Bring Me Back, I’m Reusable!”. The foodbank is going to keep track of how many bags are brought back every month, and our hope is to see at least half of the bags make repeat appearances at the facility. If 1,500 of these bags come back every month, that would equate to a total of 18,000 single use plastic bags that do not go into circulation over the course of a twelve-month period. Our goal is to minimize single use plastic and we are excited to have enthusiastic partners embark with us on this pilot program.

You’ll see plenty of buying guides in the next month. We encourage you to shop thoughtfully, considering where things come from and how they get to you. We do not get any benefit from you shopping from this list. These are simply ideas we have and products we use and like. If you’re a local business with sustainable gifts, email us and we might add you to this list!

Above all, we hope your holidays (however you define them) are full of all the things you value—friends, family, food, and fun.

The Gift of Time
One of the best gifts you can give—yourself. If you have an elderly parent, relative, neighbor or friend, they don’t want more STUFF. They would love it if you came over more often to play a board game or to chat over tea. Or perhaps to help clean out their garage, to rake and compost their leaves, or to plant their garden for them in the springtime. Or maybe there’s a young family on the block with kids who would love to learn to bake, or make a bird house or grow tomatoes. When you give the gift of yourself, it is two gifts—one for them, and one for you!

Secondhand Books
Used books have a kind of mystique to them that people love! If it’s secondhand, it’s intriguing to wonder where the book has traveled, who originally bought it and with what purpose. If it’s from your own collection, add a note about what it means to you. We especially encourage circular economies like this — buy from a local used bookstore, or if this isn’t possible, Amazon sells used versions of all books. We should also note that most used bookstores have gift cards as well!

Soap Nuts & Dryer Balls
Interesting names…. great products! Soap nuts are natural and reusable laundry soap. They really do work. Dryer balls, made from 100% wool, replace dryer sheets (which are coated with chemicals and are typically made from plastic microfibers.) A few drops of essential oil (all-natural, high quality) will allow the dryer balls to act as a fabric refresher too, if that’s important to you!

Support Local Farms
Want to support local food production? Whitehall Farms, in Clifton, sells CSA shares and local products at its on-site market. We also highly suggest you visit!

Reusable Produce Bags
Reusable produce bags are a good way to decrease plastic bag usage from your weekly shopping trips. As you well know, we aren’t big fans of plastic.

The Gift of Good Health
Fairfax County Rec Centers have many locations near you and they would love for you to give a gift certificate for a membership or classes.

Meal Subscriptions
Although we’re highly skeptical of meal subscriptions, Sunbasket rises above the rest. Sunbasket has many food options, their meals are certified organic and they pack all items in 100% sustainable packaging that is recyclable and/or compostable. If you have a friend or a sibling who just works/commutes TOO MUCH and you worry that they aren’t eating well, consider a Sunbasket membership.

Mighty Nest
For $12 a month, you can get a new sustainable, environmentally conscientious product to try. Items in the past have included beeswax wrap to replace plastic wrap, silicone toppers (again to replace plastic wrap), reusable sandwich bags, all-natural laundry soap, stainless steel bento boxes, refillable dental floss in a glass tube and more. All items come with minimal paper packaging and no plastic. They also have a good selection of healthy home products to help get you to zero waste.

Seabags
Seabags is a company out of Maine that makes bags and totes that are made from old sailboat sails. They have a shop in Annapolis if you want to go see them in person. The bucket bags are a favorite and are perfect project bags for knitting, or lunch, or shower caddy!