Executive Summary

Key Documents

• Potomac Watershed Trash Treaty View PDF
• Action Agreement View PDF

The Trash Free Potomac Watershed (TFPWI) Initiative, formed in 2005, seeks to address the trash problem from a watershed-wide approach to benefit the entire region. Currently, there is a lack of effective collaboration occurring between jurisdictions in the region to address this problem. AFF’s objectives are to challenge regional leaders to work collaboratively; to bring together key stakeholders to research and explore alternative, innovative, cost-effective solutions that will have long term impact; and to improve general public education and awareness that can shift individual behaviors. Numerous federal and regional agencies including EPA, NOAA, Metropolitan Washington COG and ICPRB are providing financial, human and technical resources. The following details the key components and objectives of the project:

1. Potomac Watershed Trash Treaty On the eve of the 17^th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup in 2005, AFF brokered the first-ever Potomac Watershed Trash Treaty among key political leaders in the DC Metropolitan Area. The Potomac Watershed Trash Treaty commits signers to achieving a Trash Free Potomac by 2013, and to:
   • Support and implement regional strategies aimed at reducing trash and increasing recycling;
   • Increase education and awareness of the trash issue throughout the Potomac Watershed;
   • Reconvene annually to discuss and evaluate measures and actions addressing trash reduction.

   Signatories in 2006 include: Congressman Chris Van Hollen (MD); Congressman Albert Wynn (D-MD); Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD); Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (R-VA); Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Governor, State of Maryland; Thomas V. “Mike” Miller, President, The Senate of Maryland; Gwendolyn Britt, Senator, District 47, The Senate of Maryland; Wayne Cooper, President, Board of County Commissioners, Charles County, MD; Gerald E. Connolly, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County, VA; Douglas Duncan, County Executive, Montgomery County, MD; Jay Fisette, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, Arlington County, VA; Jack Johnson, County Executive, Prince George’s County, MD; Thomas F. McKay, President, Board of Commissioners, St. Mary’s County, MD; John L. Thompson, President, Board of County Commissioners, Frederick County, MD; Sean T. Connaughton. Chair, Board of Supervisor Prince William County, VA; Anthony Williams, Mayor, District of Columbia; William Euille, Mayor, Alexandria, VA; Kathryn Porter, Mayor of Takoma Park, MD; Judith F. Davis, Mayor, City of Greenbelt, MD; Stephen A. Brayman, Mayor, College Park, MD; William Gardiner, Mayor, Hyattsville, MD; Larry Giammo, Mayor, Rockville, MD

   Signatories in 2007 include: U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, MD; U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, District of Columbia; Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA); Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-MD); Governor Martin O’Malley, State of Maryland; Adrian Fenty, Mayor, District of Columbia; James E. Proctor, Delegate, District 27A, MD; Joseph F. Vallario, Jr., Delegate, District 27A, MD; Tommy Wells, Councilmember, Ward 6, District of Columbia; Anne R. Kaiser, Delegate, District 14, MD; Ingrid M. Turner, Councilmember, Prince George’s County, MD; Jeffrey M. Frederick, Delegate, District 52, VA; Will Campos, Councilmember, Prince George’s County, MD; Kathleen M. Dumais, Delegate, District 15, MD; David L. Englin, Delegate, District 45, VA; Roger Berliner, Councilmember, Montgomery County, MD; David A. Catania, Councilmember, DC; Adam P. Ebbin, Delegate, District 49, VA; Marilyn Praisner, Councilmember, Montgomery County, MD; Mary Cheh, Councilmember, DC; Murray D. Levy, Delegate, District 28, MD; Dan K Morhaim, Delegate, Baltimore County, MD; Brian Frosh, Senator, District 16, MD; Joanne C. Benson, Delegate, MD; Penelope A. Gross, Supervisor, Fairfax County, VA; Edith Patterson, Vice Supervisor, Charles County, MD; David E. Poisson, Delegate, District 32, VA; David Bulova, Delegate, District 37, VA; Kenneth R. Plum, Delegate, District 36, VA; Ron Carlee, County Manager, Arlington, VA; Thomas Dernoga, Councilmember, Prince George’s County, MD; John D. Jenkins, Supervisor, Neabsco District, Prince William County, VA; Sharon Bulova, Supervisors, Fairfax County, VA; Daniel Swain, Chairman, Fulton County, PA; Ellis Yingling, Commissioner, Fulton County, PA; Bonnie Mellot Keefer, Vice Chariman, Fulton County, PA; James Marker, Chairman, Somerset County, PA; Brad Cober, Vice Chairman, Somerset County, PA; Pamela Tokar-Ickes, Secretary, Somerset County, PA; Charles Caputo, Delegate, VA; Bob Dorsey, Councilmember, Montgomery County, MD; Roger Manno, Delegate, Montgomery County, MD; Robin S. Gardner, Mayor, City of Falls Church, VA; Jim Graham, Committee Chair, Ward 1, DC; Marion Barry, Councilmember, Ward 8, DC; Harry L. Thomas, Jr., Councilmember, Ward 5, DC; Andrew M. Fellows, Councilmember, College Park, MD; David Harrington, Councilmember, Prince George’s County, MD, Jan H. Gardner, President, Board of County Commissioners, Fredrick County, MD

   Signatories in 2008 include: Governor Tim Kaine, State of Virginia; Governor Ed Rendell, State of Pennsylvania; Governor Joe Manchin III, State of West Virginia; Isaiah Leggett, County Executive, Montgomery County; Valerie Ervin, Councilmember, Montgomery County; Charlina Watson, Councilwoman, Town of Bladensburg, MD; Mary Margaret Whipple, Senator, District 31, VA; Kelly Burk, Supervisor, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, VA; J. Walter Tejada, Chairman, Arlington County Board, VA; Timothy Lovain, Councilmember, City of Alexandria, VA; Patrick Wojahn, Councilmember, College Park, MD; Patricia Ticer, Senator, District 30, VA; Samuel N. Graves, Jr, County Commissioner, Charles County, MD; Heather R. Mizeur, Delegate, District 20, MD; George Leventhal, Councilmember, Montgomery County, MD; Michael G. Lenett, Senator, District 19, MD; Paul Pinsky, Senator, District 22, MD; Mark Matulef, Councilmember, Ward 2, City of Hyattsville, MD; Rona E. Kramer, Senator, District 14, MD; Joseline Pena-Melnyk, Delegate, District 21, MD; Steven Teufel, President, Berkeley County Commission, WV; Redella Pepper, Vice Mayor, Alexandria, VA; Thomas R. Swaim, Commissioner, Morgan County, WV; Brenda J. Hutchinson, Commissioner, Morgan County, WV; Glen R. Stotler, President Commissioner, Morgan County, WV; Susan Hoffman, Mayor, City of Rockville, MD; John Doyle, Delegate, Jefferson County, WV; Stevens Miller, Commissioner, Loudoun County, VA; Bruce Williams, Mayor, Takoma Park, MD; Vincent Gray, Chairman, Washington, DC;



2. Trash Free Potomac Initiative - A Comprehensive Framework of Community Partnerships
   • AFF has established an effective infrastructure of key leaders and decision makers on federal, state, local and non-governmental levels to take responsibility and collaborate on action oriented problem solving.
   • An Advisory Council has formed to utilize Action Committee recommendations to guide and advise the Alice Ferguson Foundation on the Trash Free Initiative.
   • Five Action Committees will develop strategies, make recommendations, and conduct Action Planning to implement steps towards creating a trash-free Potomac Watershed.


3. Trash Summit - A Signature Event that Commits Elected Officials and Provides Outreach
   • The 5th Annual Potomac Watershed Trash Summit is scheduled for September 22, 2010 once again at House of Sweden from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Register for this event by visiting www.TrashSummit.org.
   • The 4th Annual Potomac Watershed Trash Summit was held on October 28, 2009 at the chic House of Sweden along the scenic Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
   • The 3^rd Annual Potomac Watershed Trash Summit was held on June 17, 2008 at The World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C.
   • The 2^nd Annual Potomac Watershed Trash Summit was held on Thursday, June 14, 2007 at The World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C. This event provided a venue for key stakeholders to collaborate on strategies to eliminate trash from our waterways, communities, streets and public lands – including regional public policy, model Best Management Practices, business actions, and public education. With almost 300 attendees and an additional 40 signers to the Potomac Watershed Trash Treaty the event was a success.
   • The 1^st Potomac Watershed Trash Summit was a day-long gathering at The World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C. on March 16, 2006 with approximately 265 key stakeholders that included model technology exhibits, expert speakers and local success stories that increased community education and awareness of the trash problem and recommended actions to reduce and prevent it. See the “Talkin Trash” video that was produced by AFF about the 1st Trash Summit at AFF website www.trashfreepotomac.org.


4. Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup - A Community Catalyst for Progress
   • The 20^th Potomac River Watershed Cleanup occured from April 5, 2008, to April 26, 2008.
   • AFF coordinated the 20^th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup which included nearly 300 cleanup sites from April 5 to April 26, 2008. The 12,000 volunteers who participated in the cleanup event removed over 285 tons of trash from sites in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The largest regional event of its kind, the cleanup has engaged over 45,000 volunteers and 250 partners since 1989.


5. Potomac River (watershed) Outreach and Awareness for Trash (PROACT)
   • Through the work of Roundtable Committees, a comprehensive regional public education campaign is being created that addresses citizen involvement in the problem and the solution. Regional jurisdictions are being requested to combine resources to fund this effort. The District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, Arlington County and the City of Rockville have pledged 2008 funding for the campaign.
   • A public opinion poll about trash attitudes of 1,000 residents in the watershed and two focus groups was conducted in June 2008.
   
    
6. Enforcement - Enforcement is Education
   • Through the partnership of the Washington Metropolitan Council of Government’s Police Chief Committee, AFF held Litter Enforcement Week (LEW).  LEW asked Police Officers to focus on litter crimes such as littering, illegal dumping and wind-blown litter, to raise awareness of the harmful affect trash has on our communities and environment. 
   • 10 Jurisdictions participated and we hope to grow it every year.
   
   
7. Major Sponsors of the 2008 Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative
   Fugro EarthData, Inc.; The Summit Fund of Washington; Chesapeake Bay Trust;
   Philip Morris USA; Koch Industries, Inc.; National Park Service;
   NOAA – Marine Debris Program; The World Bank; OpinionWorks;
   Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; Telemundo WZDC;
   Crowell & Moring, LLP; Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.; Exxon Mobil Corporation; PilieroMazza, PLLC; D.C. Divas National Womens Football League;
   FishAmerica Foundation; Mirant Mid-Atlantic, LLC; Potomac Riverboat Company;
   REI; Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Charles County Chapter;
   Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association; Winchester Homes; Andrew and Carrie Love; Chaney Enterprises; Mirant Chalk Point, LLC;
   Rosalie Fedoruk, Billy Buck & Company, LLC