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Clean County Commission says volunteers collected nearly 4,000 pounds of litter in 2024
Summary
The James City County Clean County Commission reported on 2024 activities, saying 79 volunteers removed almost 4,000 pounds of litter, expanded education and repair-fair efforts, and launched a native-seedling giveaway planned for March.
Peg Borman, vice chair of the James City County Clean County Commission, delivered the panel’s 2024 annual report to the Board of Supervisors on the county business meeting agenda. The presentation summarized the commission’s cleanup events, outreach work, volunteer contributions and grant activity for the year.
Why it matters: the commission’s programs aim to reduce litter, increase recycling and engage residents in maintenance of public spaces; staff and commissioners told the board these volunteer-driven activities supplement county services and help reduce landfill waste.
Borman told supervisors the commission organized at least three countywide cleanups in 2024, including the Great American Cleanup in late March, the countywide litter cleanup, and a Clean the Bay Day water cleanup supported by county stormwater staff. The commission reported 79 volunteers collected nearly 4,000 pounds of litter in 2024, which the slide presentation described as roughly the equivalent of 166 bags. Commissioners also supported Earth Day and Arbor Day planting events, a pollinator garden and bilingual educational outreach at the Human Services building.
The commission’s repair fair and recycling expo — launched in 2016 and expanded with a repair fair in 2021 — attracted more than 200 cars in 2024, Borman said. The event yielded more than 200 pounds of soft plastic, about 100 pounds of glass recycled by Owens-Illinois, more than 1,000 pounds of electronic waste recycled by a contracted vendor, a half-truckload of household goods donated to Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 87 pairs of shoes for Soles4Souls, 10 gallons of food scraps for composting and 12 tires (four on rim).
Borman said volunteers logged 1,066 hours in 2024; the commission presented a dollar-equivalent value of $17,482.40 for that volunteer time and estimated more than 5,000 people attended commission events during the year. The commission also highlighted two small grants that funded pollinator garden installations and other beautification projects in neighborhoods including Newtown and the Greater First Colony area.
Looking ahead, the commission plans to allow residents and groups to reserve up to five native tree seedlings online in March, with larger quantities available for community groups through a request process coordinated with general services and parks and recreation. Borman closed by asking supervisors to help recruit businesses and volunteers and thanked county staff coordinators Andrea Case and Regina Jackson for support.
Commission and board members praised the recycling expo and repair fair and encouraged continued outreach to recruit business nominees for quarterly Clean Business awards administered with regional partners in Newport News, Hampton and York County.
The presentation concluded with a short video the commission used for recruitment and outreach.
Ending: Supervisors thanked the commission and noted the volunteer-driven events helped the county reduce waste and engage residents; no formal action was required of the board on the report.
