Pollution prevention means eliminating or reducing the use, generation or release of environmental waste at their source. These proactive environmental strategies will be vital as the Commonwealth moves to address climate change and environmental justice. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Pollution Prevention (OPP) hosts a number of programs and initiatives that support pollution prevention (P2) and serve as a conduit for non-regulatory assistance to businesses, institutions and communities. These programs encourage the minimization of environmental footprints through actions that often exceed regulatory requirements while enhancing bottom lines. OPP coordinates incentive programs and assistance, as well as internal programs that allow DEQ to lead by example.

A few of the program’s accomplishments from 2021 are:

• Promoted climate adaptation, resilience and mitigation by incorporating information and questions into the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program applications

• Engaged people and organizations to reduce reliance on single-use plastics and reduce solid waste through outreach on implementation of Executive Order Seventy-Seven, Virginia Leading by Example to Reduce Plastic Pollution and Solid Waste and the Virginia Green Travel program

• Presented nine Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards at the virtual Environment Virginia symposium in March, which allowed the ceremony to be broadcast to a wider audience