environment | ARLnow.com

Rocklands is First Business in Va. to Go Solar Through New Initiative

Published July 7, 2021 at 11:45AM

Rocklands BBQ and adjacent buildings (courtesy of Arlington County Department of Environmental Services)

Arlington County just became the first jurisdiction in the Commonwealth to use a private sector financing program to help local businesses go green.

The county and the state’s first business to get a clean energy boost is Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company, which recently had loans approved through a new county program to pay for upgrades to its roof at 3471 Washington Blvd in Virginia Square, as well as the installation of solar panel systems on two nearby properties. The work will likely be complete in October.

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Amazon Will Pay HQ2 Employees to Bike to Work

By Jo DeVoe

Published July 1, 2021 at 11:45AM

Rendering of HQ2 Phase Two -- "S. Fern Street Plaza provides a welcoming entrance, while also serving as a gathering place for special neighborhood events" (courtesy of NBBJ/Amazon)

Amazon wants its employees to bike to work so much it will pay them to do it.

The e-commerce and cloud computing giant announced today it will be paying employees $350 a month to HQ2 employees to cover the costs associated with cycling, from rentals to maintenance to parking at public transit stations.

Around Town

These Arlington Restaurants are Using an App to Fight Food Waste

By Jo DeVoe

Published June 25, 2021 at 9:45AM

City Kabob & Curry House Manager Adnan Bashir (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A few restaurants in Arlington are reducing their food waste through a new app called Too Good To Go.

And the restaurateurs say the platform not only helps them recover profits on food that would otherwise get tossed — it also makes their businesses more sustainable and helps them reach new clientele.

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Someone Is Deflating SUV Tires in North Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published June 23, 2021 at 11:30AM

A North Arlington neighborhood is on alert after someone deflated tires on at least five SUVs in the name of environmental justice.

The incident happened after midnight on Friday, June 18, along the 4600 block of 37th Street N. in the Old Glebe neighborhood.

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Arlington Will Start Collecting Food Scraps in September

By Jo DeVoe

Published June 9, 2021 at 2:00PM | Updated June 9, 2021 at 3:59PM

(Updated at 3:50 p.m.) Arlington County will start collecting residents’ food scraps on Labor Day.

Residents receiving county curbside collection services — mostly those in single-family homes and townhouses — will be able to toss unused food into their green yard waste bins and bring them to the curb on collection day, starting Monday, Sept. 6. Those scraps will be composted in Prince William County and returned to Arlington as soil.

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Updated Stormwater Regs Could Add Cost, Aboveground Tanks to New Homes

By Jo DeVoe

Published April 7, 2021 at 3:30PM

Lot-to-lot flooding across properties in Arlington County (courtesy Arlington County Department of Environmental Services)

Responding to increasing storms, flooding and ongoing development, Arlington County will be changing its stormwater management regulations for single-family home construction projects.

The new requirements — and how they came about — have developers worried.

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County Board Approves Restoration Project for Donaldson Run Tributary B

By Jo DeVoe

Published March 24, 2021 at 3:55PM | Updated March 24, 2021 at 4:33PM

Exposed water main along Donaldson Run Tributary B (Photo courtesy Arlington County)

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Arlington County is moving forward with a project to restore Donaldson Run Tributary B despite some vocal public opposition.

On Tuesday, the County Board voted 4-1 to award a $1.5 million contract to restore a segment of the stream beginning at N. Upton Street and extending about 1,400 feet downstream to where it meets with Donaldson Run Tributary A in Zachary Taylor Park. Takis Karantonis cast the dissenting vote.

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Donaldson Run Restoration Project Set for County Board Review

By Jo DeVoe

Published March 18, 2021 at 11:35AM

Donaldson Run near Military Road (staff photo)

The Arlington County Board is slated to review a restoration project for Donaldson Run Tributary B next week.

The Board is scheduled to vote at its Tuesday meeting on whether to award a $1.5 million contract to restore a segment of the stream beginning at N. Upton Street and extending about 1,400 feet downstream to where it meets with Donaldson Run Tributary A in Zachary Taylor Park, according to a county report.

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New Arlington Construction is Helping to Turn the Commonwealth Green

By Matt Blitz

Published February 19, 2021 at 2:45PM

New Arlington construction is helping the Commonwealth become more green.

Virginia is ranked eighth in the country for LEED-certified space per capita, the U.S. Green Building Council announced earlier this month. This is in large part because of Arlington County, which accounted for more than 15% of the newly LEED-certified buildings in the state in 2020.

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County to Consider Adding Food Scrap Collection to Next Budget

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 4, 2021 at 3:30PM

The Arlington County Board is going to consider adding food scraps collection to its solid waste services in the 2021-22 budget.

This change would allow residents to toss their food scraps with their yard waste in the existing green bins. All the organic material would be taken to a composting facility and the new service would cost less than $12 annually for those paying the household solid waste rate, according to county staff.

Around Town

Arlington Wants Public Feedback for the New Forestry and Natural Resources Plan

By James Cullum

Published December 2, 2020 at 9:45AM

Fall colors in Douglas Park in 2020 (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

If you could snap your fingers, what would be your one wish to improve nature in Arlington?

That’s one of the questions Arlington’s Department of Parks and Recreation is asking as it begins a two year-long process to update its Forestry and Natural Resources Plan (FNRP). The new plan will include “a variety of long-term goals, strategies and priorities that address tree canopy in a comprehensive, systematic manner,” according to the project website.

Around Town

Arlington’s Tree Canopy Fund is Giving Away Free Trees

By James Cullum

Published December 1, 2020 at 10:35AM

If you’ve ever dreamed of filling an empty space with a towering scarlet oak tree in your neighborhood, at your place of worship or in your yard, now’s your chance to get it delivered and planted for free through EcoAction Arlington‘s Tree Canopy Fund.

The application deadline for free trees to be planted on private property is Friday, January 8. There are 11 tree varieties available for individuals, nonprofits, civic and homeowner associations and a number of other groups.