On Friday, November 16, a group from The World Resources Institute’s Washington, D.C. office toured the I-95 landfill complex in Lorton, Va. Environmental compliance specialist Erin Abrahams led the tour, which focused on the general operations of the solid…

On Friday, November 30, 2018, the National Association of Counties Foundation for the Improvement of Public Services and the U.S. Communities Foundation presented a check to Fairfax County in the amount of $50,000. The money is designated for future playground equipment to be built when the Original Mount Vernon High School site is renovated.

A master development…

Brian Keightley is the new Urban Forest Management Division Director, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. Former and soon-to-retire division director Keith Cline and Keightley are working together for a smooth transition.

“Brian is an outstanding addition to the Urban Forest Management Division and to Fairfax County leadership,” Cline said. “I look forward to…

It is that time of year again! Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone and now it is time to spread some holiday cheer in the form of work parties, family gatherings, and the promise of a happy New Year! And while consumerism typically reigns during the holidays, there are some great strategies for reducing waste you can apply when planning your next…

On Friday, November 30, 2018, freshwater ecologist Danielle Wynne spoke to more than 600 students at two assemblies at Rose Hill Elementary School in Alexandria. Wynne,wholeads theWatershed Education and Outreach section within the Stormwater Planning Division of Fairfax County's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services,introduced the students to what it means to be…

Students, teachers, urban foresters and other volunteers planted10 native trees at Mantua Elementary School in early November. “I found it magical to have ten, tall, beautiful, native trees in the play yard at the end of the day where before there had been none,” said Michele Sullivan, fifth grade teacher, Fairfax County Public Schools. “As a teacher, it was fun to watch the kids…

This holiday season, consider decorating your home with a living tree that you can later plant in your yard to enjoy for many years to come. Simply leave the tree’s roots balled or covered in burlap, and place the tree in a container. Before moving the tree inside, allow the tree to adjust to cooler temperatures by storing it in an unheated garage or shed for a few days. Do this again when it’s…

In late October, approximately 20 adults from George Mason University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute toured Fairfax County’s trash and recycling processing facilities at the I-66 transfer station in Fairfax and the I-95 landfill complex in Lorton. OLLI is an educational and social organization of more than 1,200 retirees living in the area.

The tour began with an explanation of…

You may have heard of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services –it's a mouthful, we know – but do you know what we do? We build infrastructure and provide critical services to make Fairfax County a sustainable place for residents to live, work, and play. Our work often goes unnoticed, but we have interesting stories to share, and now we have a way…

A pollinator meadow planting event was held at the Alban Road vehicle maintenance facility in Springfield on Saturday, November 10. More than 30 volunteers from the Department of Vehicle Services (DVS), George Mason University’s Engineers for International Development program, and Friends of Accotink Creek helped install native plants.

"Thank you to our partners in DVS,…