Long Time, Still See: plastic rocks in the geologic record

Scientists have recently found plastics in a deep-sea submarine trenches in the South China Sea. They have begun to investigate how plastics and microplastics break down in the deep sea, to determine the lifecycle of seafloor plastic. The rock record of earth’s history preserves evidence of our litter problem and if plastic gyres, like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch weren’t enough, we’ve found another level (literally) of plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Check out the article to learn more about what research have found and what they are currently looking into. 

Coffee and the Race Against Time

We live in an age of environmental catastrophes and extinctions; this podcast comes to the table with the story of the race against time to save coffee. Coffee plants are hit hard by climate change, Arabica coffee, in particular, is not able to survive increases in temperatures. Which is a HUGE problem to coffee drinkers. New species are being investigated to try to find a breed of coffee that could live up to the legend of Arabica coffee. Take a listen to learn more about the global problem and what is currently being done to address this potential, future catastrophe. 

P.S. No need to run to the store in a bout of panic buying– crops will continue to persist in our lifetime and likely will be available to future generations, just at a higher cost and lower availability.

D.N.E (does not exist)

A new book, Second Nature by Nathaniel Rich, addresses unsetting environmental truths and asks the ominous question: does the natural world even exist? The book covers a wide variety of narratives, from starfish ripping off their arms, to zombie-like cows, to bunnies glowing green under a black light. Rich’s book brings examples of environmental horrors to light not to scare us, but to make us aware of problems we as a species are causing. To learn more about this novel and others like it, check out this article.

Return of the Cicadas

Are you worried this spring? While some people are worried about cicadas taking over their gardens, others are excited for top water fishing to start in order to take advantage of the situation. Cicadas can wreak havoc on lawns, trees, and shrubs, but you can plan ahead for how to deal with them in a positive way! From covering younger plants, to mowing at the correct time, to not using pesticides, there are many options to protect your garden from cicadas this year. Check out this article for more tips to be prepared and this article for more background cicadas and their incredible life cycle. If you’re more an angler than a gardener, happy fishing and no worries for you!

Holy Hydrogels!

Have you ever noticed greenish colored beads in your plants or potting soil after bringing them home from the store? We recently found many of them in local Fairfax County streams. These beads are synthetic hydrogels that help plants retain moisture and fertilize plants, however, they are easily washed out of gardens and into local waterways. Do these beads degrade over time and do they cause problems in local streams? The short answer to both is yes, but take a read to see for yourself more information on these soil beads. This article is from 2016, but we still see these beads in the environment today.

Mission: Cool Composting

Domingo Morales, winner of the inaugural David Prize and its $200,000 grant, is a grassroots organizer who changes waste into community wealth. Domingo helps communities debunk myths about composting and provides funding that is independent from municipal governments. His goal: to widen the scope of composting in communities, especially underprivileged ones. When Domingo engages in community outreach, he teaches youth about the process and how he started his own successful business doing something good for the earth. Read more here!

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.

Can a Story About Litter Be Lovable?

This wholesome news about two little girls receiving a response to their letters to Santa sent via balloon demonstrates unintended consequences of balloon releases. In addition to the generous stranger in this story that provided the girls a gift that their family couldn’t afford due to the pandemic, the do-gooder was initially picking up other peoples’ trash (i.e. deflated balloon). The mother is said to have “thought it would deflate and disappear in a tree nearby”. Balloons do not disappear, but this is a common misconception! Because the family’s balloon was found by a Good Samaritan, thankfully a positive story came about. Unfortunately, this is not what we often see in our environment (see photo below). Like the mother initially thought, many deflated balloons end up caught in trees or trapped in streams. Check out the article to learn more about the incredible story of a balloon taking a 650 mile from Kansas to Louisiana.

Get Green At Gatherings

We are entering into celebration season! From proms, to weddings, to graduations, balloons are often a big part of events. But want to know a crazy statistic? This article estimates an average of 31,000 balloons as found along U.S. beaches PER YEAR. Celebrations, especially after such a challenging year, will be central to our lives. However, wildlife should not be the ones who pay for the consequences of our actions. After balloons are used (and oftentimes intentionally released in large numbers), they become an environmental hazard to animals because they look like food to animals; for example, sea turtles think brightly colored balloons look like their favorite food, jellyfish! Not only do these balloons end up inside animals’ stomachs, they also are eyesore in local waterways. Think about how your celebration this year can keep balloons out of the environment and wildlife’s stomachs. What’s more, let your local politicians know you support the legislation recently passed in Virginia (see below).

More Balloons, More Problems: Virginia Takes On Intentional Balloon Release

What do we do about all these balloons that don’t get picked up by a Good Samaritan? Virginia lawmakers have passed legislation that bans the intentional release of all non- biodegradable balloons and fine offenders $25 per balloon. Environmentalists know that balloon litter is common in our waterways and causes harm to marine and freshwater animals. While balloons are central to many celebrations, more green options exist so that people AND the planet can have a good time. Check out more information on eco-friendly celebration options.

Refuse to Lose to Climate Change

Amanda Gorman, American Youth Poet Laureate who spoke at President Biden’s inauguration, recently shared a special piece of work to celebrate Earth Day. She was selected to speak by Dr. Jill Biden, is a Harvard graduate, and has also performed at a United Nations summit and on Good Morning America. Check out the link to hear the incredibly inspiring Earth Day video that calls us to rise up for the Earth.

I am beyond excited to join Clean Fairfax as the new Clean Streams Coordinator! I recently moved to the area with my husband, Luke, and our dog, Harvey, and we relocated from the island of Oahu, Hawaii. I am originally from southern Illinois, close to the Mississippi River at Saint Louis, Missouri. I grew up exploring the caves and spring fed streams of the Missouri River and the wetlands of southern Illinois. While at university, I decided I wanted to be able to do science, but in the outdoors, which led me to where I am today. My previous work includes a lot of what I call hard science—collecting and looking at data for evidence, whether it be chemicals, biological hazards, or physical, like the erosion of stream banks or flash flooding. I am VERY familiar with urban streams (that often times are more toxic drainage ditches) and look forward to getting to know the local streams in Fairfax County!

I spent my college years trapezing around Saint Louis, Missouri, where I obtained both my Bachelor’s and Master’s of Environmental Geoscience. While conducting research, I learned how to think like a scientist and how truly messed up our local waterways can be.

The degradation can be truly awe-inspiring—what was once a gorgeous creek has been transformed into a saturated dumpster. I decided to take action by participating in educational outreach and community engagement opportunities; I found myself drawn more and more away from the “hard” science and into advocacy, because knowing you have a problem is different than solving a problem.I thought to myself, how much data do I need to know something before I do something? My background in urban streams, earth science, and community engagement has me ready to take on the monster that is plastic pollution in urban streams in Fairfax County. With Clean Fairfax, I look forward to (attempting) to fill Zach’s shoes by continuing his awesome work to actively protect the community, natural spaces, and people of Fairfax County.

Salty about pollution this Earth Day:

Salt– we love it in our food and we need it on the roads during winter for safety. But how much salt is too much? Local ecosystems are inundated with salt during winter, which is a problem if you are a freshwater fish, but what’s more is that salt also negatively impacts infractures like roads and pipes. Globally, salt levels are increasing in freshwaters, even into non-winter months! Check out this article on how the world’s freshwater supply is threatened by something that was once thought of as harmless. Earth Day is upon us, and while spring showers and blooms bring positive outlooks and new commitments to sustainability.

They Can’t Breathe: an entire Michigan zip code exposed to toxic levels of pollutants everyday

Private industry has wreaked deadly havoc in one particular Michigan zip code, 48217; this neighborhood encompasses more than four dozen polluters monitored by the EPA. From cement and waste treatment plants, steel factories, to oil refineries, all of these businesses pump out a toxic soup of air pollutants that are known to cause cancer, respiratory disease, asthma and liver failure. The EPA issues warnings and notes the levels exceed what is permitted under the Clean Air Act, but community members have no way to flee their neighborhoods and corporations get a slap on the wrist. Check out the article for more detail the struggles this neighborhood faces. This Earth Day, keep in mind your fellow Americans that fight everyday, not just today, for clean air to breath.

ANNT: Tech Companies

What’s the word on E-waste these days? That it’s a mess, that’s what. The United States cannot adequately address plastic waste, let alone e-waste; thus, we do what we do best, outsource our problems to other, less developed nations for them to deal with. When e-waste IS recycled (which majority of the time, it’s not) the programs often result in the products ending up in Asia, Africa, India, and South America. It has been found that children as young as eight years old are employed and involved in segregation hazardous e-waste. What can we do about the waste of products that are so integrated into our daily life? According to this article, the real power of change for e-waste lies where it begins: with tech companies.

White House, Green Summit

President Biden starts a virtual Leaders Summit on Climate along with 40 world leaders today to reestablish partnerships to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build out clean-energy infrastructure. The President’s American Jobs Plan invests in creating more clean-energy jobs in Pennsylvania, through tax credits for clean-energy generation and manufacturing and 94,000 Pennsylvanians had jobs in the clean-energy sector in 2019. Check out the White House’s press release for more details on what this Summit entails, kicking off today, Earth Day!

The opportunity to play an active role in protecting the communities, natural spaces, and people of Fairfax County is an opportunity I will never forget. I will always be a Virginian and Bailey’s Crossroads will always be home- Fairfax County has shaped who I was as a child and who I am as an adult. The first place I caught a snake was on Upper Long Branch, it was also the place I repeatedly tried to surf while standing on a plastic sled. The wildness of Fairfax County creeks instilled me with a sense exploration that I carry with me to this day. Twenty-five years ago I would follow Fairfax County creeks to see what was around the next bend. Now, I call it the “river fever”- I still need to see what’s around that next bend.

Clean Fairfax enabled me to revisit those creeks with the same sense of purpose I felt when I was a kid flipping rocks over looking for crawfish. My focus has shifted from critters to plastic waste, which is unfortunately way easier to find- both activities have been equally important to creating the human I am today.

As I step away from Clean Fairfax, I look back on a time and organization that gave me so much personally and the hope that I was able to provide a lasting positive impact on the county that raised me. The environmental issues facing Fairfax County and Virginia are significant, but I am encouraged at the local and statewide initiatives that are underway.

Supervisor Lusk asked us to head a new Litter Task Force for Fairfax County. We are working to provide the Board of Supervisors with a detailed list of opportunities the county can take to drastically reduce the amount of litter in Fairfax County. Building momentum to this task force has been a significant portion of my work with Clean Fairfax. I spent early mornings in neighborhoods before the trash trucks made their rounds, too many hours analyzing maps and walked hundreds of miles through county creeks. I joined this effort years after Jen, her leadership and persistence have made this task force a reality and provided me with an incredible learning experience. I am extremely grateful and proud that one of my last actions at Clean Fairfax is the opportunity to participate in this Litter Task Force and use the research that has been my focus for two years to make positive changes.

I’m grateful we were able to play a role in important environmental legislation on the state level. Expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) food and beverage service containers will be a thing of the past in Virginia. There will no longer be mass balloon releases at football games or weddings. The momentum to implement the $0.05 fee for single use plastic bags is growing in localities around the Commonwealth. The Virginia Litter Tax has been raised for the first time in 43 years which will provide an estimated additional $900,000 for the state to use for litter prevention and mitigation programs around Virginia.

I’m leaving Clean Fairfax proud of the work we have done and thankful I was able to play a part but with full knowledge the effort is not complete. I am 100% confident the team at Clean Fairfax will continue to rack up victories and I look forward to seeing all of the great things that are being planned! You can expect to see Clean Fairfax continuing to hold corporations accountable while pushing for a bottle bill and extended producer responsibility.

So much has happened – both personally and professionally – since I came to Clean Fairfax. I never updated my bio on our website, if I had, it would now read like this::

“Zach is a native of Fairfax County, having lived all over the Southeast, he always finds his way back to Northern Virginia. Zach has a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Sustainability and Environmental Compliance and Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration in Natural Resources and Conservation.

Zach’s focus is proving that environmental justice and sustainable solutions are the economic solution. It is always less expensive for society to confront a problem rather than to find stop-gap measures that allow problems to persist.

His passion for environmental issues stems from a life spent exploring the outdoors and years as a fishing guide. Zach lives with his wife, Lexi, and their two dogs, Buddy and Cappy. When he’s not working, you can find him on one of our local rivers kayak fishing or running trails with his family.”

I may be stepping away from Clean Fairfax and leaving Virginia, but I will always be connected to Clean Fairfax and the wonderful people who make our work a reality. I’m grateful for the communities, schools, and individuals who invited me to have conversations about plastic pollution and the issues we face here in Fairfax County. I’m especially thankful to Jen who has provided unwavering mentorship and friendship to this dirty river rat. She is my lifelong friend, mentor, advisor, and ghostwriter- I would not be in the position I am today without her support. This isn’t the last you’ve heard of Jen and I together, you can’t keep besties apart! Our podcast, “Getting to Greener” is in the works and we are so excited to share it with everyone!

Yours in Solidarity,

Zach Huntington

Wastewater Wall on the Brink of Collapse

A crew from the Army Corps of Engineers are working overtime in the effort to prevent a collapse of a wastewater pond in Manatee County, Florida by pumping millions of gallons of fertilizer waste into Port Manatee on Tampa Bay. This waste is known to be bad for ecosystems, causing fish kills and, in some cases, making humans sick. The state’s Environmental Protection Agency has said the water meets quality standards, but then names exceptions that did not meet standards, including a host of nutrients known to cause algal blooms. Manatee County, Florida is yet another example of the crumbling water infrastructure in the U.S. and how natural waterways pay the price of private corporation negligence. Here’s the article with the full story.

Crumbling Infrastructure Gets Climate Change Makeover

The President’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan goes beyond just roads, bridges and housing to take on climate change. Infrastructure such as wastewater treatment facilities (see, Florida) and stormwater infrastructure must be “stronger and more resilient to face the climate change impacts that we are seeing right here right now”, says EPA Administrator Michael Regan. Wealready see evidence in our local communities that water systems need to be modernized (e.g. Flint, Michigan) and now with Biden’s pricey infrastructure plan, new work will be done to address these issues, along with many other climate initiatives that are good for people and planet. Check out this article for more information on other climate initiatives  and this article provides details of where the trillions of dollars go.

Problems Across the Pond: Dumpster Fires Continue to Cause Climate Change

The European Union faces a stalemate in cutting carbon emissions because of its long-standing embrace of “waste to energy” or trash incineration. They have halted providing funding towards making new incinerators, but still do not plan to include these massive sources of greenhouse gasses in their Paris Agreement commitments. “Burning plastic in a climate emergency, that’s insane,” said Georgia Elliott-Smith, an environmental engineer who is suing the British government over its decision to exclude incinerators from its new emissions trading system. Transforming our trash to treasure is a false fantasy plastic and waste producers want us to believe. This problem is not unique to the EU, we have one of the largest waste to energy facilities in the US right here in Fairfax County. Check out the article for more detail on the growing concern in the European Union towards their once much loved waste solution.

Go Big So We Can Stay Home

A group of scientists is asking the U.S. government for $100 million to research technology, called solar geoengineering, to artificially cool the climate– by blocking sunlight before it can warm the earth. No, this is not an opening to a dystopian science fiction novel, and yes there are potential, devastating risks associated with such technologies. These scientists argue that the social risk is worth it and think this sort of drastic solution may jolt the public into taking climate change seriously by providing an extreme and dangerous solution. The U.S. does not take curbing its greenhouse gas emissions seriously, but may be willing to strike fear in the hearts of Americans for a potential, quick fix– allowing big polluters to keep on polluting. Check out the article for more information on how scientists frame this technology.

Blossomed Out from Climate Change

Have you noticed cherry blossoms flowering earlier and earlier each year? In the hundred year blooming National Park Service record, bloom dates have jumped forward about a week. Earlier bloom dates make cherry blossoms more susceptible to spring freezes and if blooms are damaged during freezes they no longer flower and fruit for the rest of the season. Scientists cite climate change and urban heat island effect (i.e. cities are warmer than rural places because more concrete absorbs and holds more heat) as reasons behind premature blossoming. Cherry blossoms are not only a national treasure, but an important food source for pollinators! Check out this article for more detail on how cherry blossoms, both in Japan and the U.S., are peaking earlier and earlier.

Climate Confuses Crops

Some crops are finding it harder to grow due to climate change; changes in temperature and water resources impact more delicate, but much loved, crops. Wheat, peaches, coffee, and almonds were all mentioned as at risk crops in a 2018 NPR article. Peach trees, like cherry blossom trees, require enough “chill time” in the winter in order to bloom properly, which becomes an issue as winters warm. Additionally, almond trees are also at risk due to climate change, because the primary water source for these crops is snow melt. When it snows less, or snow melts quickly all at once, the water needed to irrigate these crops is no longer available for these thirsty crops. We are well aware of the negative impact climate change has on crop production, but significant changes in greenhouse gas reduction have yet to be a priority in the U.S. Check out the article for more information on how wheat and coffee are also impacted by climate change.

Climate Confuses Crops– and Cause Quakes:

If you weren’t worried about the crops in the previous news article, you may be alarmed to hear that avocado trees are similarly affected by climate change and wreaking environmental havoc. Farmers say “screwy” weather patterns have caused their trees to be “totally confused” and one study estimated California avocado trees could be cut in half by 2050. What’s even more alarming is increased demand for avocados, or “green gold”, has not only caused extensive biodiversity and soil loss, but also continues to cause small earthquakes to occur! Check out these two articles to find out more about the stresses this crop faces and the incredible environmental consequences of the “green gold” rush.

Natives to the Rescue

Native plants are an important asset to our local ecosystem; they provide food and shelter for butterflies, insects, birds and other animals. Natives are already at home in the weather and soil conditions that our yards have naturally and do not require harsh chemicals to control pests. Overall, natives are easier to care for AND better for the environment! NoVA Natives has posted a call for volunteers in their April update and visit their website for more information. Happy planting!

Tons of waste with nowhere to go:

Forty-two million metric tons of plastic waste was contributed to land and sea by the United States in 2016. This ends up being 286 pounds of plastic waste per person a year! Where does all of this plastic waste go? Almost 90% of all US recyclable plastic is exported to countries with inadequate infrastructure. The solution to the plastic pollution crisis is to reduce plastic production at its source! The authors of this article talk about how to reduce the enormity of plastic waste in our country and the environment. Plastic producers, production companies, and the United States’ FEDERAL government must take action regarding plastic waste disposal and recycling. We agree that it is beyond the scope of individuals to address the obscenity of this issue. Check out the article to find out more details about how scientists have gathered information on the United States’ contribution of plastic waste!

One country’s trash is another country’s… trash

Malaysia became the top importer of the world’s plastic waste after China banned imports in 2018. Recently, the country sent back 267 shipping containers of now illegal plastic waste, and is in the process of returning 81 more. It’s also important to mention that of 150 containers returned, 17 were from the US. This news reiterates the fact that the United States does not have the capacity to deal with its own waste and has a history of pawning off its environmental pollution on developing nations. Companies must be held accountable for the waste they create to sell their products with things like extended producer responsibility– taking the burden of addressing plastic product pollution from the consumer to the ones who create the product in the first place. Check out the article to learn more about Malaysia’s drive to stop other countries’ from smuggling their waste into Malaysia’s borders.

Plastic pollution takes on new front in the remote arctic:

Microplastics in the arctic? Are we surprised? Microplastics (i.e. tiny plastic particles, fibers or fragments less than five millimeters) have been documented across the globe, from city centers, remote uninhabited islands, and on the ocean floor.These tiny plastics are carried by wind currents and found throughout the arctic. Plastics absorb heat more than ice or show, which can accelerate snow and ice melt that is already threatened by global warming. Plastic pollution has become intertwined with the climate crisis and we cannot hope to mitigate climate change without taking a deeper look at how our trash causes irreconcilable harm to the environment. Read the full story here. 

Basic? We think Starbucks new green initiative is anything but. 

Hold on to your inner basic, millennial white girl, because Starbucks has recently piloted a new green program at their headquarters in Seattle. Customers pay a one dollar deposit when they order their drink and return their cup at their next visit, receiving a one dollar credit in addition to ten reward points. This program will kick off as a two-month trial in five Seattle stores, and we hope this sustainable initiative provides an effective alternative to disposable hot cups. Check out the article for more info on other trials Starbucks has run and sustainability contests run by Starbucks and McDonald’s.