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askhrgreen.org

askhrgreen.org Answers, resources and inspiration for a cleaner, greener Hampton Roads.

As a region-wide public service initiative, askHRgreen.org educates, engages and motivates citizens to make good environmental choices here in Hampton Roads. By bringing together the 17 local governments (plus the Hampton Roads Sanitation District), we are a force and a resource, working to help you improve and protect our waterways, infrastructure and recycling activities through information and

inspiration. If you want to learn more about this environmental program, which is administered through the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, or what you can do, just askHRgreen.org

Financial support for askHRgreen.org is made possible by the following member localities and agencies: the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg; the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry and York; the town of Smithfield; and HRSD.

Operating as usual

03/17/2023

Time to get your green on and celebrate St. Patty’s Day. But instead of simply wearing green, why not DO SOMETHING GREEN and register for the 2023 Hampton Roads Great American Cleanup on March 24th and 25th?

Cigarette butts, cups, cans, bottles, paper, plastic, tires… In fact, there are more than 6,000 PIECES OF LITTER for every mile of roadway across Hampton Roads. What are YOU going to do about it? Gather some friends and Team Up 2 Clean Up! 🚫🚬🥤🥫📄🚫

YOU can make a difference! Tag your friends and join us for the 2023 Hampton Roads Great American Cleanup on March 24th and 25th!

👉 TEAM UP 2 CLEAN UP: https://askhrgreen.org/great-american-cleanup/

03/15/2023

Oh, fickle March weather! Don’t despair when it’s cold and rainy. 🌧 Turn things around and make your own rain barrel!

Sure, you can buy one at your neighborhood hardware store, but if you prefer to make one yourself, follow simple steps using a heavy duty plastic trash can. It doesn’t take very long once you’ve gathered your materials, and the cost savings can be substantial.

You’ll want to put your rain barrel on a couple concrete blocks — or some other level, elevated surface — so gravity can help with water flow if you’re planning on hooking up a hose to it.

Adding a rain barrel is one BIG way you can green up in 2023!

👉 💦DIY rain barrel instructions: https://askhrgreen.org/how-to-build-a-rain-barrel

03/14/2023

If you’re starting to think about spring cleaning, do you know how to properly dispose of the leftover paint in your garage? What happens to the gas that’s been sitting in the gas can for two years? And what if you have a spray can that has a disintegrated label?

Household Hazardous Waste is nothing to fool around with. 🚧 And it certainly shouldn’t be tossed into the regular trash willy-nilly. What are some good things you can do?

🔋 Store all products in their original containers, labeled and sealed.
🤲 Buy and use only the amount you need for your project. (Leftovers can immediately be shared or donated.)
🚗 Vehicle products such as antifreeze, oil, brake and transmission fluid, car wax and gasoline should be labeled, and many times can be recycled at a local auto parts store.
⚠️ Dry latex (water based) paint can be safely disposed of in your trash can if you leave the lid off the paint can.
🐈 Wet latex (water based) paint can be safely disposed of in your trash can if you add kitty litter, sawdust or mulch until the paint’s no longer runny; leave the lid off the paint can.

Recycling and disposal information for your community can be found with our fantastic online recycling lookup tool. Use it today!

👉 Get disposal options for HHW in your community: https://askhrgreen.org/recycling-lookup

Thank you, Benjamin Franklin! Did you know he created—among other things—the concept of daylight saving time to make the...
03/12/2023

Thank you, Benjamin Franklin! Did you know he created—among other things—the concept of daylight saving time to make the best use of daylight hours? ☀️

So today we make note that it’s Daylight Saving Time, ☀️and that means spring is around the corner with sunshine, warmth, green grass and blooming gardens…

Before you kick off your winter boots and imagine what that grass feels like between your toes, 🦶you should first test your soil to see what it needs (if anything) before jumping in with any fertilizer.

Have you “sprung forward” yet? How do YOU plan to enjoy the extra sunshine? ☀️

👉 All the info you need to test your soil is right here: https://askhrgreen.org/soil-testing/

As we’re heading into lawn and garden prepping season, we have a question… Do you know what happens when you add too muc...
03/10/2023

As we’re heading into lawn and garden prepping season, we have a question… Do you know what happens when you add too much fertilizer to your lawn? Well, if you apply more nitrogen and phosphorus than your lawn can absorb, it will most likely run off your yard and end up in our waterways. 🌊

That’s not good. In fact, all kinds of bad things can happen, including killing fish,🐟 crabs 🦀and oysters 🦪(to name a few), and creating waterways that are simply unpleasant to swim and boat in.😳

Nobody wants that. And it’s all due to adding extra fertilizer to your lawn. Save the oysters! 🦪

👉 Does your lawn even need fertilizer? Find out: https://askhrgreen.org/soil-testing/

Not all heroes where capes! 🦸‍♂️ We applaud Glenn Norcutt of Newport News for his dedication to clean communities. 👏👏👏Yo...
03/09/2023
Retired Newport News shipyard employee spends time cleaning community park

Not all heroes where capes! 🦸‍♂️ We applaud Glenn Norcutt of Newport News for his dedication to clean communities. 👏👏👏

You too can be like Glenn. The Great American Cleanup is just two weeks away and we're rallying volunteers across Hampton Roads to clean up litter on March 24-25.

Learn more or get registered at https://askhrgreen.org/cleanup

Glenn Norcutt retired over a year ago. But the former Newport News Shipyard employee is not sitting still,

A dripping faucet 💧can waste up to 8 gallons of water a day. By the end of the month, that’s enough water to do 15 loads...
03/08/2023

A dripping faucet 💧can waste up to 8 gallons of water a day. By the end of the month, that’s enough water to do 15 loads of laundry!

🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺🧺

Not only is that wasted water, but you’ll see that reflected in a higher water bill. 💦😫

Find the leak and fix the leak! Get all the info and resources you need to check for leaks, whether they're in your toilets, faucets, pipes, showerheads or outdoors.

👉 Find the leak and fix the leak! Here’s how: https://askhrgreen.org/water-leaks-finding-fixing/

The secret to staying healthier and living longer might just be in a glass of tap water. According to a new study by the...
03/06/2023

The secret to staying healthier and living longer might just be in a glass of tap water. According to a new study by the National Institutes of Health, staying well hydrated may slow down aging and prolong a disease-free life.
🚰🚰🚰🚰🚰
Wow. The study tracked more than 11,000 people over 30 years, and showed that when people are more hydrated—and have lower serum sodium levels in their blood—they have less risk of heart failure, heart disease, artery disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes and dementia.
🚰🚰🚰🚰🚰
In other words, the fountain of youth everyone’s yearning for? It’s right there at your faucet. Drink more tap water!

👉 Get more info about our clean, affordable tap water! https://askhrgreen.org/clean-affordable-tap-water/

Did you know an estimated one million birds and one hundred thousand marine animals, including our beloved sea turtles, ...
03/05/2023

Did you know an estimated one million birds and one hundred thousand marine animals, including our beloved sea turtles, die every year from plastic litter alone? 🐢🐬🐠🦀

That. Is. Tragic.

We live in a coastal area with lots of waterways, and it’s up to us to help protect the animals who also live here. Litter does not need to be a part of the environment, right? 🐢🐬🐠🦀

Grab your friends or family members and make plans to be a part of the Great American Cleanup on March 24th or 25th.

👉 Get out there and do something about it. Register today! https://askhrgreen.org/great-american-cleanup/

03/03/2023

There are three things that you can be sure will be accepted in your curbside recycling bin. Do you know what they are? They are PAPER, BOTTLES AND METAL CANS! It’s time to GET BACK TO BASICS so we recycle right!

Paper that can be recycled:
Printer Paper
Newspaper and Magazines
Flattened Cardboard Boxes and Rolls

Empty plastic bottles and jugs with a neck or spout can be recycled, including:
Beverage Bottles and Jugs
Cleaning Product Bottles and Jugs

Empty metal cans that can be recycled:
Steel and Tin Cans
Aluminum Cans

We and our friends at TFC Recycling want you to know how to recycle right. Get back to basics and be successful in your recycling efforts. We so appreciate you!

👉 Start smart and get back to basics! https://askhrgreen.org/start-smart/

National Old Stuff Day is a day to remind you to clean out your closet and declutter your life! (Note, grandpa doesn’t q...
03/02/2023

National Old Stuff Day is a day to remind you to clean out your closet and declutter your life! (Note, grandpa doesn’t qualify as “old stuff.”)

No need to keep those clothes you don’t wear or gifts you’re “saving” just because… Those dust-collectors and “one-day” things… All that STUFF you’re not using is simply taking up valuable space.

Why not let someone else enjoy it? And on the flip side, why not shop for gently used items when it’s time that you do need something?

We’re putting together a Thrifting Guide to Hampton Roads and would love to hear about the places you admire and why…

Help us help you! Where do YOU shop for second-hand items?

👉Six great tips to combat fast fashion! https://askhrgreen.org/alternatives-to-fast-fashion/

Woo hoo, it’s March, and we’re marching forward with our monthly resolution to Green Up in 2023! Are you with us? This m...
03/01/2023

Woo hoo, it’s March, and we’re marching forward with our monthly resolution to Green Up in 2023! Are you with us?

This month’s focus is KEEPING YOUR COMMUNITY CLEAN.

And wouldn’t you know it, you can register for a Great American Cleanup event on March 24 and 25 near you.

Or you can rally your neighbors, friends and family members, and plan your own project.

Need help? Through our Team Up 2 Clean Up program, you can “check out” litter grabbers, trash bags and safety equipment for your use any time of the year.

👉What else? See our Green Up list for inspiration: https://askhrgreen.org/green-up


Be a part of the Green Up movement!

Compost! Because a rind is a terrible thing to waste…  All kidding aside, compost is a great thing to do at your kitchen...
02/28/2023

Compost! Because a rind is a terrible thing to waste… All kidding aside, compost is a great thing to do at your kitchen sink AND for your garden. If you’re not already composting, here are some compelling reasons to get started:

🤎It’s a great way to recycle kitchen and yard waste, diverting as much as 30% of household waste away from your drain and the garbage can.
🤎It reduces landfill waste; one-third of landfill waste is made up of compostable materials.
🤎 Compost adds nutrients to your plants and helps retain moisture in the soil.
🤎It introduces beneficial organisms that help aerate the soil, break down organic material for plant use and ward off plant disease.
🤎Compost offers a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers.

👉Don’t talk trash. Talk compost! https://askhrgreen.org/fat-free-drains/

Welcome to our newest Bay Star Business, Whitley's Peanuts!🥜
02/24/2023

Welcome to our newest Bay Star Business, Whitley's Peanuts!🥜

Here’s a startling fact: It takes a plastic straw approximately 200 years to decompose, which means that every single st...
02/24/2023

Here’s a startling fact: It takes a plastic straw approximately 200 years to decompose, which means that every single straw since they were invented in 1888 is still floating around somewhere on the planet today.

Whoa.

What can you do? You can start by skipping the straw and tipping the glass. If you want to do more, why not look into our Team Up 2 Clean Up efforts for the Great American Cleanup on March 24th and 25th?

👉TEAM UP 2 CLEAN UP: https://askhrgreen.org/great-american-cleanup/

It’s time for a little potty talk.🚽 Because the more you know about what’s flushable, the better! Here are the ONLY thin...
02/22/2023

It’s time for a little potty talk.🚽 Because the more you know about what’s flushable, the better!

Here are the ONLY things that should be flushed down the toilet:
💧 Water
💩 Your personal business
🧻 Toilet paper

Anything else can lead to clogged pipes and a lovely visit from the plumber. And if backed-up sewage hits the streets (after flooding your place), there’s a good chance it will wash down storm drains and into our waterways, harming aquatic life,🐟🦀 🦪closing beaches and making some seafood unsafe to eat. Which may lead to the “other” kind of potty talk…

👉 Are you a Toilet Trooper or a Party P**per? Find out here! https://askhrgreen.org/gtk-gtd/what-not-to-flush/

A standing ovation goes to  Dawn Emery one of our Level Up Challengers! She vowed to level up her green ways in Virginia...
02/21/2023

A standing ovation goes to Dawn Emery one of our Level Up Challengers! She vowed to level up her green ways in Virginia Beach by starting to compost, growing a garden, and reducing plastic waste and waste in general.

❝I want to make a difference in our environment.❞

Dawn, you ARE making a difference! Thank you for your efforts and for leading by example. How about the rest of you? How are you leveling up?

👉 What can YOU do to level up? https://askhrgreen.org/level-up-ideas/

02/17/2023

See that aluminum can littered on the road? Leave it and it’ll decompose in 200 years. 🥤

Or it can be picked up in a minute and be infinitely recycled. ⏱

You decide. 🤷‍♀️

Grab a friend or two (or a bunch!) and register to be a part of the Great American Cleanup on March 24th and 25th.

👉 TEAM UP 2 CLEAN UP: https://askhrgreen.org/great-american-cleanup/

Using less is the first step in our Start Smart, Recycle Right approach to recycling and waste reduction. And right now ...
02/16/2023
Wouldn’t You LOVE to Live More Sustainably? - Keep Virginia Beautiful

Using less is the first step in our Start Smart, Recycle Right approach to recycling and waste reduction. And right now Keep Virginia Beautiful is giving away some sweet home sustainability kits. Enter to win one with the link below!

We sometimes hear people say they’d like to live a more sustainable lifestyle, but it seems like it might be hard to live with, and they don’t know where to begin. We want to help with that! We want to give you a sample of some of the products you can use at home to […]

02/15/2023

We love, love, love that you’re recycling! The journey of recycling has several steps, and one of the most important is that you’re recycling RIGHT. We and our friends at TFC Recycling want you to know that putting the right thing in the right bin can make all the difference. Which may mean you DON’T put some recyclables in your household bin, but in the proper bin.

Recyclables that don’t go in the household recycling bin include:
👍 Plastic bags; they typically can be recycled at retail stores.
👍 Batteries; check to see if your library has a battery recycling bin.
👍 Clothing; what about donating to thrift stores?
👍 Scrap metal
👍 Hazardous waste
👍 Yard waste

While it may not be as convenient as dropping these things in your curbside household recycling bin, it’s still as important! See what’s accepted in your community and WHERE to take things that need to go somewhere besides your curbside bin using our fantastic recycling toolkit.

👉 Tap into our recycling toolkit for resources… https://askhrgreen.org/recycling-lookup/

02/14/2023

This Valentine’s Day, why not add Mother Earth to your list of Valentines? Show her some love…

🎨 Don’t buy cards; make your own with recycled paper.
🌲 Plant a tree for each sweetheart.
🌿 Pick flowers/berries/pretty branches from your own garden to make a personalized bouquet.
💍 Buy a gift from a vintage or thrift store and practice zero waste.
❤️ Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours. ❤️ And that means Mother Earth, too.

02/12/2023

It’s Super Bowl Sunday, which we’d like to point out also means Super “Toilet” Bowl Sunday. 🚽

We’re talking about the—🧻 ahem 🧻—halftime flush.

Our pipes are busy in Hampton Roads during halftime and after the game. According to the Hampton Roads Sanitation Department, while flows to treatment plants slow down during the first half of the game, flows increase during the halftime bathroom rush and even more so right after the end of the game. Do your part to keep things flowing in the right direction by flushing only your personal business – p*e, poo and toilet paper.

NO wipes, NO napkins with little footballs on them, NO chicken wing bones, NO betting or scoring papers…

Keep your Super Bowl flowing with a winning attitude by your “home” team!

👉 Do YOU know what NOT to flush? https://askhrgreen.org/what-not-to-flush/

A standing ovation goes to  A’na Grace  one of our Level Up Challengers! She vowed to level up her green ways in Newport...
02/10/2023

A standing ovation goes to A’na Grace one of our Level Up Challengers! She vowed to level up her green ways in Newport News by participating in neighborhood cleanups as well as beautification and restorative development…

❝I simply want to be a part of the solution my community needs!❞

A’na, you rock! You inspire us to keep striving for a cleaner, greener Hampton Roads! Are YOU leveling up like A’na?

👉 What can YOU do to level up? https://askhrgreen.org/level-up-ideas/

Our friends at Elizabeth River Project have some fun seasonal job opportunities for those who love the outdoors!
02/09/2023

Our friends at Elizabeth River Project have some fun seasonal job opportunities for those who love the outdoors!

NOW HIRING! Join us for the upcoming spring season as a Seasonal Educator - either aboard the Learning Barge or at the 40-acre Paradise Creek Nature Park. Learn more and for application details: https://elizabethriver.org/career/seasonal-environmental-educator/

Wow! Keep it up, Hampton Roads!
02/06/2023

Wow! Keep it up, Hampton Roads!

"Is it worth it to recycle anymore?"
We've been seeing this question more often lately, so we wanted to give you a little perspective on how much of an impact your recycling is making.

In 2022 TFC Recycling processed:
🧴98,795,970 plastic bottles
🥫75,082,930 aluminum cans
📦68,352,930 lbs of cardboard

Without curbside recycling, all of these materials would end up in a landfill. Clearly, the answer is... YES! Please continue recycling your materials for a greener future. Your efforts are making a difference.

Lucy, a sweet pup in Newport News, loves to go on walks in her neighborhood and at the Riverview Farm Park. Her companio...
02/06/2023

Lucy, a sweet pup in Newport News, loves to go on walks in her neighborhood and at the Riverview Farm Park. Her companion? Anne-Lise G. who has pledged to Scoop the P**p, not only keeping her neighbors happy, but making sure that our area waterways stay clean and healthy.

Protect nature when nature calls!

👉 Take the Scoop the P**p Pledge! https://askhrgreen.org/pet-waste-scoop-poop/

Did you know that during a five-minute shower, we typically each use 20 gallons of water? While there are many ways to c...
02/05/2023

Did you know that during a five-minute shower, we typically each use 20 gallons of water? While there are many ways to conserve water, may we carefully suggest you consider showering with a friend?

(Even if that means bringing some houseplants that thrive in high humidity into the shower with you!)

Drop by drop, it all adds up—small changes in your lifestyle can add up to huge water savings.

👉 Discover other ways you can conserve water indoors… https://askhrgreen.org/conserving-water-indoors/

02/03/2023

The journey of recycling right begins with you choosing recyclable products and then properly recycling them, and finally, new and useful products being made from the raw materials…

Only for you to choose recyclable products again!

We and our friends at TFC Recycling want you to be aware of the recycling journey so you can make choices that keep the cycle strong. Every choice you make has a consequence. Are you with us on the journey of recycling right?

👉 The journey of recycling right begins with you. See how it works! https://askhrgreen.org/start-smart/

Six more weeks of winter? Only Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania can tell us. And while we ...
02/02/2023

Six more weeks of winter? Only Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania can tell us. And while we have many ways to predict the weather, legend has it that if Phil sees his shadow today, we’re in for more days of winter chill. If not, we can expect an early spring with warmer weather.

Let’s hear it for furry prognosticators! The groundhog tradition dates back to 1886 when a badger or sacred bear would predict the weather.

Grab your coat—or not—and enjoy Groundhog Day!

Aren’t birds the flying jewels in our environment? Let’s help them thrive during February, National Bird-Feeding Month. ...
02/01/2023

Aren’t birds the flying jewels in our environment? Let’s help them thrive during February, National Bird-Feeding Month. February was determined to be the toughest month of the year for our feathered friends, so here are a few things you can do to help them survive:

🐦 Put out another feeder.
🐦 Add heated water to your yard.
🐦 Be consistent! Birds will become used to your yard as a resource and safe place.

You can also participate in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, February 17-20, sponsored in part by the National Audubon Society. Learn more at https://www.birdcount.org/

The health of our bird population is an indicator of the health of our environment. Join us and let's make Hampton Roads a safe resource for our wonderful birds.

Do you have a child safety seat that is... ➡ more than 8 years old?➡ from a yard sale or thrift store?➡ involved in a cr...
02/01/2023

Do you have a child safety seat that is...
➡ more than 8 years old?
➡ from a yard sale or thrift store?
➡ involved in a crash?

If so, these seats may be unsafe and should be taken off the road. During the month of February, you can receive a $5 reward for helping Drive Safe Hampton Roads round up unsafe child safety seats for recycling. Find a drop off location and complete details by visiting: https://askhrgreen.org/car-seat-round-up/

Hey there, planet protectors, water warriors and guardians of green living! We salute you and your resolution to Green U...
01/31/2023

Hey there, planet protectors, water warriors and guardians of green living! We salute you and your resolution to Green Up in 2023!

As we enjoy February, our resolution for the month is to make your home flush friendly. 🚽 You can do that by knowing what NOT to flush. Those things include:
🚫 Tissues
🚫 Paper towels
🚫 Wipes (even if they say they’re “flushable”)

What else? See the list… Some might surprise you!

Be a part of the movement and green up in February!

👉 Do YOU know what NOT to flush? https://askhrgreen.org/what-not-to-flush/

Quick question: Did you enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea this morning? You can thank our reliable water system for maki...
01/27/2023

Quick question: Did you enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea this morning? You can thank our reliable water system for making that possible. And what about tonight? Perhaps a nice, frosty beer is on the agenda? (Made with 95% water, by the way.) Maybe something on the rocks? Again, the vast infrastructure and network of pipes and equipment (and wonderful water workers) allow you to enjoy clean, refreshing water.

Don’t take water for granted. Help preserve and protect our water sources by fixing any leaks in your house and avoiding putting anything that doesn’t belong there down the drains or toilets.

👉 Interested in seeing your community’s drinking water quality report? https://askhrgreen.org/maintaining-our-infrastructure/

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Chesapeake, VA
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Your go-to resource for all things green

As a region-wide public service initiative, askHRgreen.org educates, engages and motivates citizens to make good environmental choices here in Hampton Roads. By bringing together the 17 local governments (and our friends at HRSD), we are a force and a resource, working to help you improve and protect our waterways, infrastructure and recycling activities through information and inspiration. If you want to learn more about this environmental program, which is administered through the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, or what you can do, just askHRgreen.org. Financial support for askHRgreen.org is made possible by the following member localities and agencies: the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg; the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry and York; the town of Smithfield; and HRSD.


Comments

Hey there! Will there be any curbside Christmas tree pick-ups or other tree recycling drop off opportunities this year?
Happy Holidays!!!
One thing I can't seem to find on your website is what numbers of plastics can be recycled in Virginia Beach. I've heard that only 1's & 2's can (be recycled) but I've never been able to get an answer from Tidewater Fiber Corp.
I have a question. What actually happens to our recycling and the yard waste that the city picks up?
Mrs. McNeil's 6th grade Science students at Spratley Gifted Center found the "Write as Rain" hidden messages outside the SGC building.
Write as Rain pictures at the Spratley Gifted Center!
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