Tag: environment
Bill to curb car exhaust noise vetoed
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation passed by the General Assembly that would have made it easier for the police to enforce the ban on noisy vehicles. House Bill 2550, sponsored by Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6th District), would have given Fairfax County a tool to crack down on illegal, modified exhausts that create significant noise … Continued
More transparency needed on Lake Accotink preservation study
By Martin “Shep” Shepherd The update on the Lake Accotink Preservation Feasibility Study, provided in the February edition of Supervisor James Walkinshaw’s newsletter, “The Braddock Beacon,” highlights several ongoing efforts and key milestones. However, critical questions remain unanswered, and gaps in public transparency persist. Below is a detailed evaluation of the update, key takeaways, and … Continued
Committee suggests ways to make Mason District greener
There are dozens of ways to improve sustainability in Mason District, according to a committee of individuals knowledgeable in environmental issues. Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez appointed Ken Sandler, an expert in environmental science and policy, last April to convene a Greener Mason Advisory Committee. The committee was charged with proposing both long-term and short-term … Continued
BoS urged to act on illegal dumping
The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council is urging county leaders to take action to curb illegal dumping along roadways and in parks, streams, and neighborhoods. EQAC recommends the Board of Supervisors assign a county agency to take on a leadership role for eliminating illegal dumping. It also calls for better signage at dump sites … Continued
TJ student is on a mission to reduce light pollution
Rushil Kukreja, a student at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, is so committed to reducing light pollution, he founded a nonprofit organization and is working on drafting legislation to address the problem. He even spoke at a science summit at the United Nations in October on potential solutions. Princia, the 501(c)(3) Rushil … Continued
Plastic bag tax generated over $6 million
Fairfax County’s plastic bag tax has generated over $6.2 million in revenue since it took effect on Jan. 1, 2022, the county reports. The largest share of those funds supported Operation Stream Shield, a program that pays homeless people for temporary work removing debris from streams and other locations. Funds also went to waste collection … Continued
Justice HS holds a Recycling Fair
Justice High School student volunteers helped local residents declutter their homes while keeping unneeded items out of landfills.
Lake Accotink is being drained for an evaluation of the dam
Part of the lakebed at Lake Accotink is exposed, as the water level is being lowered to facilitate a study of the dam structure.
Lake Accotink sedimentation study to start this fall
The U.S. Geological Survey has gotten the go-ahead to carry out a $1.14 million three-year sedimentation study of Lake Accotink.
Committee advises Jimenez on creating a greener Mason District
The Greener Mason Advisory Committee, a group set up by Supervisor Andres Jimenez, is development recommendations for making the environment of Mason District “measurably cleaner, healthier, and more pleasant.”
Community speaks out against Plaza 500 data center
Days before the Board of Supervisors’ hearing on data centers, Bren Mar Park residents and environmental activists staged a rally and press conference urging stricter rules to protect neighborhoods.
Paint recycling program launched
Fairfax County launched a paint-recycling program that will provide job training while reducing waste in landfills. The 12-month pilot program, announced June 13, is being carried out by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services in collaboration with Operation Stream Shield and the Washington, D.C.-based Pangea Markets, an organization dedicated to sustainability. Participants in … Continued
Lake Accotink studies underway
The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is making progress on the evaluation of Lake Accotink, Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw reports in the June edition of the Braddock Beacon. In December, the Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink presented its Findings Report to the board of Supervisors. The report concluded that retaining … Continued
Climate activists speak out against the unchecked growth of data centers
Dozens of environmental activists took part in a rally June 2 in Reston to push for more state and local action to pause the out-of-control expansion of data centers. The event was organized by the Sierra Club’s Virginia Chapter to highlight “the harmful economic and environmental consequences of explosive data center growth.” That growth “poses … Continued
Falls Church HS student launches a glass recycling business
For those who see the benefit of recycling but find it cumbersome to bring their glass bottles and jars to a county bin, Falls Church High School student Sam Ross has a solution. Ross launched a business, called Glass Goat, that does it for you. The company gives customers a blue bin to fill up … Continued