Latex balloons, foil balloons and plastic ribbons are deadly forms of litter, and they are a top source of debris found on Virginia’s remote beaches according to research by Clean Virginia Waterways. Litter was surveyed on four Virginia beaches between 2013 and 2020 revealing that balloon-related litter items are often the #1 most frequently found type of debris.

Intentional releasing of balloons in Virginia is illegal!

PreventBalloonLitter.org and JoyfulSendOff.org (created by CVW and the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program) offer fact sheets, reports, and lots of inspiring “picture-perfect” alternatives to balloon releases.

Most cigarettes (about 95%) on Earth have filters made of cellulose acetate (a plastic). The cellulose acetate fibers are thinner than sewing thread, white, and packed tightly together to create a filter; they can look like cotton.

So how long do cigarette butts take to degrade? Various sources have stated that cigarette filters take 18 months to 10 years to degrade. It is safe to say that the cellulose acetate fibers in cigarette filters, like other plastics, are with us for some time after they are discarded. Since environments differ—some places are wetter, dryer, sunnier, colder, hotter, windy, etc.—so too will the degrading time differ.

Virginia’s phase out of single-use foam cups and take out containers will begin July 1, 2025. Virginia voters strongly support actions to reduce this harmful source of plastic pollution. Virginia’s polystyrene ban applies to any individual, organization, group or state or local government entity that regularly provides food as a part of its services, including via a store, shop, sales outlet, restaurant, grocery store, supermarket, delicatessen or catering truck or vehicle.

Beginning July 1, 2025, food vendors part of a chain with 20 or more locations shall stop dispensing food and beverages in expanded polystyrene containers. Beginning July 1, 2026, smaller food vendors shall also stop using polystyrene containers.

One of the most problematic sources of plastic pollution in Virginia: single-use plastic bags. On average, single-use plastic shopping bags are the 4th most common type of litter found during the statewide International Coastal Cleanup in Virginia.

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly approved a bill (SB 11) giving local communities the ability to place a 5-cent fee on single-use plastic bags. The fees will support environmental cleanups and the provision of reusable bags while also decreasing the number of plastic bags being used...and ending up in our environment. Fees on bags in other communities have greatly decreased the amount of litter from plastic bags.

Plastic bottles, glass bottles, and aluminum cans are approximately two and half times more frequently littered in Virginia (a state without a “bottle bill“ or container deposit bill), than in states with container deposit bills, according to research by Clean Virginia Waterways. In Virginia, bottles and cans account for approximately 22 percent of all litter recorded by volunteers during the International Coastal Cleanup in Virginia. But in states with container deposit bills, bottles and cans accounted for less than 9 percent, on average, of the total debris.

People who leave beach chairs, umbrellas, shade tents, etc, on our beaches are contributing very harmful debris to the environment!

ALL beach equipment should be removed at or before sunset. Do NOT leave anything on the beach overnight.

Debris that flies out of trucks adds to road-side litter and can be very dangerous to other drivers. Be responsible and secure your load

When using any vehicle or trailer to haul material, take a few minutes to secure the load. You are responsible for it; and it is also the law! Tie down items with rope, bungee cords or adjustable straps. Tie large items directly to the vehicle or trailer. Cover your load with a sturdy reinforced plastic or canvas tarp. Make sure brush and debris are not overhanging vehicle/trailer or dragging on road. Put lighter weight items at the bottom of the load, such as empty cardboard boxes. Don’t overload. Keep material level with the top of truck bed or trailer . Always double check your load and be aware of it while driving!. In Virginia, it is the LAW to cover all loads.