![Virginia Zoo mascot Tango the Tiger with Aquarium mascots Speckles the spotted eagle ray, holding a recycling bin, and Sandy the sea turtle.](https://virginia-aquarium.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Conservation/3F6A4362-1800x1200-46bd7fe1-de7e-4db4-957e-7b4a77cdb103.jpg?w=1799&h=1010&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1723217297&s=09bdb3bde5df42290eb699bf349e4b8c)
![Virginia Zoo mascot Tango the Tiger with Aquarium mascots Speckles the spotted eagle ray, holding a recycling bin, and Sandy the sea turtle.](https://virginia-aquarium.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Images/Conservation/3F6A4362-1800x1200-46bd7fe1-de7e-4db4-957e-7b4a77cdb103.jpg?w=1799&h=1010&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1723217297&s=09bdb3bde5df42290eb699bf349e4b8c)
Saved from the landfill.
Kept out of the trash.
Skipped for reusables.
Spared from the seas.
Saved in July.
Prevented.
Kept out of the trash.
Avoided.
Cleaned up outdoors.
Hosted or attended.
Held with others
Enjoyed in the great outdoors!
We had 265 signups for this year's Ecochallenge. Well done to all participants - here are our winners!
Congratulations to team member Carmen for scoring 685 total points! Carmen has earned a free behind-the-scenes tour for herself and one guest in recognition for her efforts to cut back on waste.
Congratulations to gallery educator Brittany for earning 2,840 total points, the highest among our staff! Brittany's efforts have granted her exclusive access to our Green Star parking spot for the month of August.
Our team did swimmingly this year! Take a look at how much waste our participants prevented during Plastic Free July.
Our Team ResultsWe partnered with SpongeBob SquarePants and the Bikini Bottom crew to clean up our local waterways this July, and ended up removing over 22 pounds of trash from our environment! Cleanup presented by Nickelodeon's SpongeBob Squarepants.
Learn MoreWe appreciate our friends at the Virginia Zoo for joining in on some friendly competition through our Ecochallenge for Plastic Free July. See how well the Zoo's team did this year!
Virginia Zoo Team Page