To the Longwood University Community:
Clean Virginia Waterways (CVW), Virginia's premier organization working to reduce and mitigate plastic pollution and marine debris, is separating from Longwood University as of June 30, 2024, in order to pursue greater advocacy and lobbying efforts within local and state governments.
Associated with Longwood since 1998, CVW has launched many landmark programs benefitting waterways throughout the Commonwealth:
- The International Coastal Cleanup in Virginia: CVW has engaged 132,000 volunteers who have removed more than 5.1 million pounds of debris from Virginia's rivers, beaches, and communities. In addition, the volunteers serve as citizen scientists by recording data about the debris they find.
- Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan and the Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Action Plan: The Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan is a roadmap for working together on sustained approaches to reduce the flow of plastic and other litter into Virginia’s coastal waters. Through program management, research, and reporting, CVW increased public awareness and facilitated data-based policy decisions to reduce plastic pollution and marine debris.
- Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network: The mission of the Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network (VPPPN) is to promote and facilitate coordination, collaboration, and communication among groups working to reduce plastic pollution throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Members of the VPPP) are organizations that are working on issues related to plastic pollution including non-profits, educational facilities, businesses, trade industries, researchers and governmental agencies.
- Virginia Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Working Group: CVW led a diverse stakeholder workgroup and conducted a large-scale examination of issues surrounding recreational and commercial abandoned and derelict vessels in Virginia, focusing on solutions that have been attempted or implemented in other states.
- CVW Internship Program: CVW staff have mentored many Longwood University students by providing meaningful hands-on and real world experiences.
- Other research: CVW has collaborated with other organizations to generate research, surveys, and reports while offering solutions to some of the most common and harmful types of marine debris including plastic bags, beverage containers, balloons, clam netting, cigarette butts, and polystyrene food containers. CVW completed a first of its kind in depth report on litter taxes in the United States titled, “Opportunities to Improve the Virginia Litter Control and Recycling Fund.”
In fall 2023, CVW founder and Executive Director Katie Register stepped down from her role into semi-retirement, fully retiring in fall 2024. Zach Huntington, who previously served as Associate Director, became the new Executive Director.
Please join me in wishing CVW best wishes in the next chapter of pursuing their mission to support citizen stewardship of Virginia's rivers, streams, bays, beaches, and groundwater.
You can follow their continued work on plastic pollution and marine debris at their new website: www.cleanvirginiawaterways.org.
Brent Roberts
Assistant Provost for Academic Outreach