Public Works and Environmental Services Alert:
National Stormwater Day is November 16, and Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is sharing how its Stormwater Management Program plays a vital role in protecting our community and the environment.
The winners of the 2024 Friends of Trees Awards have been selected by The Fairfax County Tree Commission. The recognition honors two individuals and two groups for their outstanding contributions to tree conservation and the county’s urban forest. A recognition ceremony will be held in spring 2025.
Members of the community are warmly invited to attend a holiday-themed Open House at the Noman M. Cole, Jr. Pollution Control Plant in Lorton on Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The population is anticipated to increase in Fairfax County, particularly in the northern region, which means the need is becoming greater to ensure the wastewater system can accommodate that growth. The multi-pronged Tysons Wastewater Conveyance Systems Modifications Project (Tysons West) is being proactively designed to increase the size of the sewer system to better facilitate the process of…
There will be a lot to celebrate when the county recognizes Fairfax Recycles Day on Saturday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Gerry Hyland Government Center. Join the Solid Waste Management Program for a recycling drop-off and touch-a-truck event, as DPWES recognizes several major milestones.
Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew… or compost them! Are you wondering what to do with your pumpkin after the fall holidays?
An ambitious tree-planting effort is happening at Bren Mar Park in eastern Fairfax County, where major restoration efforts are underway to combat invasive plants and the destructive emerald ash borer (EAB) beetle. Over three days on Sept. 24, 25 and 26, volunteers are helping Fairfax County’s Urban Forest Management Division plant more than 400 native saplings of green and white ash trees and…
Community feedback is being solicited by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services on a study to determine how best to preserve a smaller Lake Accotink for a sustainable future. This survey is intended to ensure the community has input on the questions being addressed by the study and to build lines of communication with the public to share information and collect…
With the approval of the construction contract for the rehabilitation of the Accotink Wastewater Pump Station, Fairfax County is administering the first local government Project Labor Agreement (PLA) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The pump station, located at 9201 Richmond Highway in the Mount Vernon District, is the largest wastewater pump station in the County and conveys sewage from more than…
A rooftop solar system that will save energy costs and reduce carbon emissions the same amount per year as recycling the contents of nearly five garbage trucks full of waste has been installed by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services at its Newington Collections Facility in Lorton.
The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is requesting feedback from residents on their current trash and recycling practices and their opinion on proposed countywide zero waste strategies through a quick online survey on the Public Input platform.
Fairfax County, VA –Fairfax County’s Stormwater Management team, in collaboration with the Park Authority, has installed new educational signs at Rocky Branch tributary in Ashlawn Park. This initiative, led by freshwater ecologist Danielle Wynne, aims to enhance public understanding of the stream restoration project in the area.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – Climate change continues to exacerbate flooding impacts, including here in Fairfax County. Weather-related flooding is already the most common and costly natural disaster across the United States. Fairfax County continues its efforts to mitigate flooding problems for residents through the latest Floodplain Management Plan (FMP). The current plan, recently released by the…
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – County residents, property owners, common interest communities (CIC) and places of worship may now be eligible for financial assistance with their floodproofing and mitigation efforts through the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMAP).
Have you ever thought about seeing how long you can go without buying plastic products? Perhaps 31 days. Throughout the month of July, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is encouraging everyone to avoid buying products made of and packaged in plastic.
FAIRFAX, VA. – Show your appreciation for Fairfax County’s waste and recycling workers through a creative contest kicking off during National Waste and Recycling Workers Week, from June 17-21. Residents are invited to express their gratitude in imaginative ways to honor the hardworking men and women who keep our neighborhoods clean and safe.
Fairfax County, VA – The Fairfax County Tree Commission announces nominations for its 2023-2024 Friends of Trees Awards open on June 14 and will close on July 31. Individuals and organizations may be nominated (or self-nominated) for various tree related projects or programs that have demonstrated outstanding conservation-based actions to preserve, protect or plant trees. Winners will be announced…
Fairfax County, VA– A pilot program aimed at reducing the amount of latex paint entering the waste stream has been initiated by Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, in collaboration with Operation Stream Shield (OSS) and Pangea Markets, an organization dedicated to sustainability.
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States has been honored with the 2023 Friends of Trees Award in the Development Category by the Fairfax County Tree Commission. The award recognizes outstanding efforts in tree conservation, particularly for exceeding the county's 10-year tree canopy requirement by an impressive 9,275 square feet at their Springfield facility.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – In response to the growing concern over the spread of beech leaf disease in Fairfax County, County staff partnered with Virginia Cooperative Extension to host a webinar titled, "The Beech Blight: Unraveling the Mystery of Beech Leaf Disease." The webinar will raise awareness about this new threat to American beech trees (Fagus grandifolia).
Join us at Franconia Recreation Center for Tape-A-Palooza's second anniversary, a collaboration with Operation Stream Shield that brings together community members and local shelters for conservation and park beautification. Witness how this initiative not only cleans up the environment but also empowers its participants, offering them part-time employment and skill-building opportunities. Enjoy…
CLIFTON, VA - Fairfax County’s Solid Waste Management program is proud to announce the installation of a new glass recycling bin at Clifton Elementary School, expanding the "Purple Can Club" in the region.
FAIRFAX, VA – Mantua Elementary School, in partnership with the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), hosted its seventh annual Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) Day last month, focusing on hands-on ecological education for fifth-grade students.
The aquatic invasive species known as Trapa bispinosa (two-horned water chestnut or two-horned trapa) has spread to more than 60 known locations in Fairfax County since 2000. The plant is found in rivers, tidal bays, and ponds throughout Fairfax County and is distinguishable by its triangular-toothed leaves.
Annandale, Va – Students, faculty and staff at Annandale Terrace Elementary School are gearing up for a big Arbor Day celebration on April 26, 2024, at 8:50 a.m. The event will take place simultaneously with the County’s 41st consecutive year being designated a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. The recognition underscores Fairfax County's dedication to tree conservation and urban…
Fairfax County, VA – A Solar Panel Recycling program has been officially launched by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES). Initially kicked off as a pilot project in November 2022, this innovative initiative marks a significant advancement in the County's environmental sustainability efforts.
A group of Fairfax County elementary school kids learned not all field trips involve fields or aromatic flowers. Some provide a learning experience that involves dirty water and putrid smells. Sixth graders from Lorton Station Elementary recently participated in a workshop and tour on water science at the Noman Cole Pollution Control Plant.
In a display of community spirit and environmental stewardship, the gardens at the Herrity Building on the Fairfax County Government Center Complex have been given a renewed lease on life this spring, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Operation Stream Shield and guidance from landscape architects of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Stormwater Management Division.
Fairfax County, Va. – Beginning March 28, Scott’s Run Nature Preserve will be temporarily closed while specialized Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) contractors perform an emergency project to clean obstructed County wastewater pipes and make necessary repairs to maintain service.
Fairfax County, Va. – As Fairfax County’s climate changes, becoming warmer, wetter and weirder, it is imperative for residents to prepare and adjust. With Flood Awareness Week kicking off this coming weekend, running from March 10 -16, now is a good time to find out what you need to do to protect your property, your loved ones and yourself.
Fairfax County government officials celebrated the completion of a significant solar technology installation at the Sully Community Center – saving the county money and contributing to its community-wide energy goals.
Fairfax County, Va – Residents wondering what to do with their live Christmas trees at the end of the season can just remove all the decorations and leave them alongside their trash. The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Solid Waste Program will collect them during the first two weeks of January, from January 1 through January 13. The trees will be recycled, with the mulch made…
Fairfax County, Virginia – In an unprecedented move for the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, a crew working on the Difficult Run Tributary at Government Center Stream and Pond Restoration project set out and, using an electro-fishing boat, temporarily, but safely, stunned the fish and eels living there and temporarily relocated them ahead of dredging the pond.