Tag: environment
Long list of new laws signed by Northam
Northam Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed dozens of bills into law in recent days, on criminal justice, marijuana decriminalization, voting, energy, Confederate monuments, discrimination, clean energy, workers’ rights, and more. The bills take effect July 1. The General Assembly plans to reconvene on April 22 to consider Northam’s amendments to some of the bills. Northam … Continued
Lake Accotink pipeline could threaten park’s habitat
County officials and community residents take a “pipeline walk” in Lake Accotink Park, accompanied by the sounds of spring peepers, wood frogs, and birds. When Fairfax County officials announced a plan in September to install a pipeline to haul dredged sediment away from Lake Accotink, many community members were happy that the lake would be … Continued
Fairfax County phasing out plastic bags for yard waste
Plastic bags like these will be banned for yard waste. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors took action Feb. 25 to begin phasing out the use of plastic bags for yard waste. The plastic bag ban will apply to residents whose yard waste is collected by private companies, as well as the county. This change … Continued
Native seedling sale underway
Common buttonbush The annual native tree and shrub seedling sale is underway. The sale is sponsored by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District with the goal of adding more native plans to the environment to prevent soil erosion, cleanse the air and water, provide a habitat for wildlife, and cool the climate. Eastern … Continued
General Assembly considers cracking down on abandoned shopping carts
This shopping cart ended up next to Arlington Boulevard in Seven Corners. The Virginia Senate passed a bill Jan. 27 to give localities more authority to take action against abandoned shopping carts. The measure now goes to the House of Delegates. The bill (SB 631), introduced by Sen. Scott Surovell, would give Fairfax and Arlington … Continued
Winter road salt pollutes waterways
VDOT crews use salt and plows to clear know off roads. [VDOT] Before the first snowstorm of the season hits, the public is urged to think twice about stocking up on road salt. Salt dumped on roads, sidewalks, and driveways to melt snow and ice seeps into waterways. Too much salt in streams can kill … Continued
Cleanup project draws dozens of volunteers to Americana Drive
Mike and Sheila Bishop About 30 volunteers spent some time on their Veterans’ Day holiday picking up litter and construction debris along Americana Drive in Annandale. Among the items found: several rugs, big pieces of concrete, lots of water bottles, and an uncashed check for $300, reports volunteer Sheila Bishop. Philip Latasa, of Friends of … Continued
No more curbside glass recycling
The purple bin at the Mason Government Center. Fairfax County is no longer accepting glass bottles and jars in curbside recycling bins. You now have two choices: Bring your used glass containers to the purple glass-only recycling bin in the parking lot of the Mason Government Center at 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, or to one … Continued
Community invited to meeting on county’s plan to save Lake Accotink
Lake Accotink is shrinking, as it fills up with sediment The public is invited to a community meeting Sept. 19 to learn about the latest plans to save Lake Accotink. The meeting, at Cardinal Forest Elementary School, 8600 Forrester Blvd., Springfield, will be hosted by supervisors John Cook (Braddock) and Jeff McKay (Lee). There will … Continued
Two sewer lines breaks this week in Mason District
Workers install a temporary bypass system to remove flow from a damaged sewer pipe on Braddock Road to allow inspection and repairs. [DPWES] There were two sewer line breaks in Mason District this week – one at Roundtree Park and one in Parklawn. The first one occurred at Roundtree Park Monday evening when an eight-inch … Continued
Recycling bin just for glass now at the Mason Government Center
The new glass recycling bin at the Mason Government Center. A purple glass-only recycling bin has been installed at the Mason Government Center parking lot, at 6507 Columbia Pike. Fairfax County encourages people to put used glass bottles and jars in special purple bins, rather than mix them up with other recyclables in curbside bins. … Continued
New environmental group will advocate for protection of Holmes Run waterway
Holmes Run overflowed its banks after torrential rains July 8. [Photos by Kris Unger] A newly formed organization, Friends of Holmes Run, plans to keep an eye on development at the Inova site on Gallows Road, at Fairview Parkway in Merrifield, and other sites near the Holmes Run waterway. “We are concerned about human impacts … Continued
Developer files suit after Board of Supervisors rejects house in flood plain
The lot on Woodlark Drive. A developer who has failed to get approval for a new house on a vacant lot in a floodplain in Annandale has sued the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance Exception Review Committee (ERC), and the individual members of the ERC. K2NC LLC, a limited liability … Continued
Special bins set up for glass-only recycling
A glass-only recycling bin operated by the City of Alexandria. Fairfax County doesn’t want people to put class bottles or jars in their curbside recycling bins any more (although you can still do that.) The market for recycled glass has declined, mainly due to tighter controls imposed by China on the quality of materials it … Continued
Electric vehicle charging stations coming to Annandale
An EVgo charging station. Owners of a Tesla, Leaf, Bolt, or other all-electric vehicle will soon have more charging options. Twenty to 40 electric vehicle charging stations will be over the next year and a half or so in locations throughout Northern Virginia, including the parking lots at Barcroft Plaza and the Annanale Shopping Center, … Continued