In 2024, Clean Fairfax leaped forward in reducing plastic waste at local farmers' markets by developing the Plastic-Free Farmers Market Toolkit. Funded by a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation’s Environment Fund, this resource equips market managers and vendors with practical strategies to transition away from plastic bags. Featuring success stories, actionable solutions, and a bilingual cheat sheet, the toolkit helps reduce plastic usage and fosters policy changes for long-term environmental impact.
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is helping build a region that works for everyone. This story highlights the profound impact of collaboration between donors to the Environment Fund, Clean Fairfax, and the Community Foundation team. By working together, we explore innovative solutions in our shared pursuit of a more resilient Northern Virginia.
Clean Fairfax’s Mission
Executive Director Jennifer Cole has dedicated 16 years to Clean Fairfax. Founded in 1979 in response to community concerns about the increasing litter problem, Clean Fairfax is one of the county's oldest environmental nonprofits. Initially, the organization focused on organizing community clean-ups, handing out garbage bags, and reacting to growing pollution.
But this approach wasn't enough, as pollution problems kept growing over time, particularly with the rise of plastic waste. So Clean Fairfax shifted its focus to addressing the root causes of pollution, especially plastic, and sought to address how to prevent it from entering the community and waterways in the first place.
At Jennifer’s direction, Clean Fairfax began working with local farmers’ markets to identify opportunities to reduce plastic bag use. At the time, there were no regulations around the use of plastic bags at the markets, so Clean Fairfax started by distributing reusable bags. But despite giving out thousands, the team rarely saw them used in the community. Determined to create a more lasting impact, they started pursuing alternative solutions, including policy changes.
Launching the Plastic-Free Farmers’ Market Toolkit
With support from the CFNOVA grant, the Plastic-Free Farmers Market Toolkit was launched on LitterfreeVA. Jen presented the toolkit at the Mid-Atlantic Farmer’s Market Association Conference alongside a panel with a Farmer’s Market Coordinator and one of their Farmer/Vendor partners, and organized Plastic Free July events at several markets across the county. These events incentivize the use of reusable bags.
The toolkit is now an invaluable resource for market managers. It offers a clear and scalable approach to eliminating plastic bags at
farmers’ markets and addressing concerns about how doing so will affect profits and logistics.
Clean Fairfax’s research into plastic bag legislation highlighted a gap in comprehensive bans for farmers’ markets. Jen's goal is to influence policy at the market level, knowing that behavioral shifts alone won’t be enough to achieve long-term impacts. Through this project, Clean Fairfax is reducing plastic waste and reinforcing that farmers’ markets are more than just places to buy produce—they are community hubs that can drive change and foster connections.
The toolkit also provides a practical starting point for market organizers who wish to become plastic-free. With the support of CFNOVA’s funding, the Clean Fairfax team is optimistic that these efforts will inspire similar initiatives across the country, reducing plastic’s harmful environmental impacts and making farmers’ markets sustainable for future generations.
The Environment Fund
The Environment Fund was launched in 2018 as a component fund of the Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia. Its mission is to protect, restore, and improve the natural environment of Northern Virginia, thereby enhancing the health and quality of life of its citizens and the economy of the region. Since its inception, the Environment Fund has granted nearly $400,000 to organizations whose work aligns with the Fund’s mission.
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Environment Fund reached a $1 million endowment milestone in August 2024. It is one of two issue area-focused funds at the Community Foundation to reach this mark, the other being the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Fund.
Questions?
Questions?
