OUR VISION
A green, clean, healthy BVI that demonstrates a viable balance between the conservation of natural resources & development.
OUR MISSION
To demonstrate, facilitate and catalyse resilient, environmentally friendly systems through practical projects, education and innovation, with focus on waste, energy, food and water.
British Virgin Islands
Environmental Not-for-Profit since 2009
Photo: Leave Only Footprints by Susan McDavit
Watch our videos on YouTube…
See what we are up to on Facebook…
2026 COASTAL CLEANUP YIELDS A DAY’S WORTH OF RECYCLABLES IN FOUR HOURS, HIGHLIGHTING BVI'S PLASTIC PROBLEM
Green VI celebrates collective action while calling on residents to stop marine litter at its source.
Road Town, British Virgin Islands (September 25, 2026): Four islands. 268 volunteers. More than 1,754 pounds of debris removed from our coastlines in just four hours.
On September 19, communities across Trellis Bay, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke came together for Green VI’s 2026 International Coastal Cleanup, joining a global movement to protect coastlines and prevent marine litter.
The cleanup formed part of Green VI’s work through PROMAR (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea), a Caribbean-wide initiative tackling marine litter at its source through community action, education, partnerships and circular economy solutions.
Across the BVI, residents, students, businesses, churches, civic organizations and government representatives worked side by side, demonstrating what can happen when the Territory rallies around a shared responsibility to protect the islands we call home.
But what volunteers collected tells an even bigger story about what the BVI can prevent.
Of the total debris, 819.88 pounds consisted of recyclable material - nearly matching the 930 pounds typically collected across the entire Territory in a full day. Volunteers also logged 1,387 single-use plastic water bottles. This equals roughly $288 worth of bottled water - the amount a single resident might spend on single-use water over an entire year.For Green VI, those bottles represent more than litter. They illustrate why protecting environmental health is also an investment in public health.
“Our ocean is the heartbeat of the Virgin Islands, and its health is directly connected to our own,” said Dylan Penn, Green VI Director of Operations. “The best plastic waste is the waste we never create. Choosing to refill instead of reaching for another single-use bottle is one small action that protects our health, reduces waste and helps preserve the vibrant islands we want our children to inherit.”
Since 2018, the Territory’s We Recycle programme has collected, baled and exported almost 14 million single-use plastic water bottles. Recycling remains important for bottles already in circulation, but through PROMAR, Green VI is encouraging the Territory to move further upstream: reduce and refuse single-use plastics whenever possible.
One of the simplest places to start is the water bottle.
Plastic does not disappear when it enters our environment. Over time, sunlight, heat and physical wear can break larger plastics into microplastics, which have been found in our water, food and bodies. Discarded bottles can also collect standing water, creating breeding sites for mosquitoes. What affects the health of our environment ultimately affects the health of the people who call these islands home.
That is why the first step is to refuse and refill: choose a reusable water bottle whenever possible and prevent unnecessary plastic from entering the waste stream in the first place.
But for the plastic already here, Green VI’s PROMAR project is also asking the BVI to rethink waste as a resource. By recovering recyclable materials and keeping them in motion through a circular economy, we can create value from materials that might otherwise pollute our coastlines or end up in the Territory’s waste stream.
The 2026 International Coastal Cleanup demonstrated what collective action can accomplish in one morning. Its greater impact is what happens next.
Refuse what you don’t need. Refill what you can. Rethink plastic waste. Together, we can protect our health, our ocean and the future of the Virgin Islands.
To learn more about the We Recycle programme, view drop-off locations, or join the PROMAR initiative, visit www.greenvi.org
###
About Green VI
Green VI is a nonprofit organisation working to create a greener, cleaner, and healthier British Virgin Islands through practical projects, education, and innovation. From waste reduction and recycling to environmental health, Green VI partners with communities, businesses, and government to turn environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable progress.
About Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea
The PROMAR Project Implemented locally by Green VI in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change (MENRCC)(Government of the Virgin Islands), the PROMAR (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea) project is a regional initiative tackling plastic pollution at its source. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and supported by the UN Environment Programme – Cartagena Convention Secretariat and adelphi, this multi-nation framework protects our critical blue economy by driving circular economy solutions to intercept single-use plastics and packaging before they ever reach our waters.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
2026 COASTAL CLEANUP YIELDS A DAY’S WORTH OF RECYCLABLES IN FOUR HOURS, HIGHLIGHTING BVI'S PLASTIC PROBLEM
Green VI celebrates collective action while calling on residents to stop marine litter at its source.
Road Town, British Virgin Islands (September 25, 2026): Four islands. 268 volunteers. More than 1,754 pounds of debris removed from our coastlines in just four hours.
On September 19, communities across Trellis Bay, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke came together for Green VI’s 2026 International Coastal Cleanup, joining a global movement to protect coastlines and prevent marine litter.
The cleanup formed part of Green VI’s work through PROMAR (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea), a Caribbean-wide initiative tackling marine litter at its source through community action, education, partnerships and circular economy solutions.
Across the BVI, residents, students, businesses, churches, civic organizations and government representatives worked side by side, demonstrating what can happen when the Territory rallies around a shared responsibility to protect the islands we call home.
But what volunteers collected tells an even bigger story about what the BVI can prevent.
Of the total debris, 819.88 pounds consisted of recyclable material - nearly matching the 930 pounds typically collected across the entire Territory in a full day. Volunteers also logged 1,387 single-use plastic water bottles. This equals roughly $288 worth of bottled water - the amount a single resident might spend on single-use water over an entire year.For Green VI, those bottles represent more than litter. They illustrate why protecting environmental health is also an investment in public health.
“Our ocean is the heartbeat of the Virgin Islands, and its health is directly connected to our own,” said Dylan Penn, Green VI Director of Operations. “The best plastic waste is the waste we never create. Choosing to refill instead of reaching for another single-use bottle is one small action that protects our health, reduces waste and helps preserve the vibrant islands we want our children to inherit.”
Since 2018, the Territory’s We Recycle programme has collected, baled and exported almost 14 million single-use plastic water bottles. Recycling remains important for bottles already in circulation, but through PROMAR, Green VI is encouraging the Territory to move further upstream: reduce and refuse single-use plastics whenever possible.
One of the simplest places to start is the water bottle.
Plastic does not disappear when it enters our environment. Over time, sunlight, heat and physical wear can break larger plastics into microplastics, which have been found in our water, food and bodies. Discarded bottles can also collect standing water, creating breeding sites for mosquitoes. What affects the health of our environment ultimately affects the health of the people who call these islands home.
That is why the first step is to refuse and refill: choose a reusable water bottle whenever possible and prevent unnecessary plastic from entering the waste stream in the first place.
But for the plastic already here, Green VI’s PROMAR project is also asking the BVI to rethink waste as a resource. By recovering recyclable materials and keeping them in motion through a circular economy, we can create value from materials that might otherwise pollute our coastlines or end up in the Territory’s waste stream.
The 2026 International Coastal Cleanup demonstrated what collective action can accomplish in one morning. Its greater impact is what happens next.
Refuse what you don’t need. Refill what you can. Rethink plastic waste. Together, we can protect our health, our ocean and the future of the Virgin Islands.
To learn more about the We Recycle programme, view drop-off locations, or join the PROMAR initiative, visit www.greenvi.org
###
About Green VI
Green VI is a nonprofit organisation working to create a greener, cleaner, and healthier British Virgin Islands through practical projects, education, and innovation. From waste reduction and recycling to environmental health, Green VI partners with communities, businesses, and government to turn environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable progress.
About Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea
The PROMAR Project Implemented locally by Green VI in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change (MENRCC)(Government of the Virgin Islands), the PROMAR (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea) project is a regional initiative tackling plastic pollution at its source. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and supported by the UN Environment Programme – Cartagena Convention Secretariat and adelphi, this multi-nation framework protects our critical blue economy by driving circular economy solutions to intercept single-use plastics and packaging before they ever reach our waters.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
FEATURED PROGRAMMES
We Recycle
The extensive foundation of establishing cross-sector partnerships, building infrastructure, launching education programmes, and embedding rigorous monitoring and evaluation tools is well-established. As long-term funding mechanisms continue to be implemented to secure its future, the system remains critical in diverting materials from our dumpsites. Use the We Recycle mapto locate your nearest drop-off point and learn exactly how to recycle glass, aluminium cans, and plastics across the Territory today.
Green Certification
Sustainable development requires a shared standard across the entire economy. The Green Certification initiative provides businesses with the education, practical tools, and operational systems needed to implement green practices, recognizing achievements through Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Leader Accreditations. This programme, developed alongside the Ministry of Natural Resources, channels essential resources into environmental betterment via its dedicated Green Fund. The data and operational models derived from this framework provide the technical guidance needed to support the future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Plan.
Initiated in 2017 on Virgin Gorda, this internationally recognised community-driven programme has successfully suppressed the invasive, disease-causing Aedes aegypti mosquito in key resorts for almost 2 years. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes cause diseases such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Innovation, education, clean-ups and community participation are integrated into safe, data-driven integrated vector control operations. We continue to partner with the Government to expand mosquito awareness and community action throughout the BVI.
Green Schools
Through the collaborative SMART Schools project, Green VI has successfully integrated environmental sustainability frameworks into the BVI public school system. With 13 of 15 schools now SMART Certified, we continue to scale this educational impact through our dedicated Green Schools programme. This initiative fosters resilience and environmental awareness in every student by deploying practical, hands-on systems – including recycling stations, school gardens, mosquito control protocols, clean drinking water systems, and energy efficiency audits and retrofits – as well as curriculum-aligned activities and lessons.
PROMAR
Implemented locally by Green VI in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change (MENRCC), the PROMAR (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea) project is a vital regional initiative tackling plastic pollution at its source. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme – Cartagena Convention Secretariat and adelphi, this multi-nation framework protects our critical blue economy by driving circular economy solutions to intercept single-use plastics and packaging before they ever reach our waters.
WE RECYCLE
The extensive foundation of establishing cross-sector partnerships, building infrastructure, launching education programmes, and embedding rigorous monitoring and evaluation tools is well-established. As long-term funding mechanisms continue to be implemented to secure its future, the system remains critical in diverting materials from our dumpsites. Use the map to locate your nearest drop-off point and learn exactly how to recycle glass, aluminium cans, and plastics across the Territory today.
GREEN CERTIFICATION
Sustainable development requires a shared standard across the entire economy. The Green Certification initiative provides businesses with the education, practical tools, and operational systems needed to implement green practices, recognizing achievements through Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Leader Accreditations. This programme, developed alongside the Ministry of Natural Resources, channels essential resources into environmental betterment via its dedicated Green Fund. The data and operational models derived from this framework provide the technical guidance needed to support the future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Plan.
BUGOUT
Initiated in 2017 on Virgin Gorda, this internationally recognised community-driven programme has successfully suppressed the invasive, disease-causing Aedes aegypti mosquito in key resorts. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes cause diseases such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Innovation, education, clean-ups and community participation are integrated into safe, data-driven integrated vector control operations. We continue to partner with the Government to expand mosquito awareness and community action throughout the BVI.
Green Schools
Through the collaborative SMART Schools project, Green VI has successfully integrated environmental sustainability frameworks into the BVI public school system. With 13 of 15 schools now SMART Certified, we continue to scale this educational impact through our dedicated Green Schools programme. This initiative fosters resilience and environmental awareness in every student by deploying practical, hands-on systems – including recycling stations, school gardens, mosquito control protocols, clean drinking water systems, and energy efficiency audits and retrofits – as well as curriculum-aligned activities and lessons.
PROMAR
Implemented locally by Green VI in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change (MENRCC), the PROMAR (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea) project is a vital regional initiative tackling plastic pollution at its source. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme – Cartagena Convention Secretariat and adelphi, this multi-nation framework protects our critical blue economy by driving circular economy solutions to intercept single-use plastics and packaging before they ever reach our waters.
TONS RECYCLABLES DIVERTED
GREEN BUSINESSES ENGAGED
MOSQUITOES COLLECTED & IDENTIFIED
School Gardens
OUR THEMES
Click on our themes below to find out more:
SECTOR
WASTE
REGION
BVI
OUR GOAL
To demonstrate an effective, widely accepted, well-funded, relevant, and innovative materials management system that serves as a model for small island states.
We achieve this when:
- Circular Economy: Our society actively reduces, reuses, recycles, and upcycles materials to spark green jobs and new business opportunities
- Cleaner Islands: Open burning and unmanaged dumpsites become things of the past.
- 100% Local Utility: All glass and organic materials are retained and repurposed for on-island applications.
- Local Manufacturing: Discarded "waste" is upcycled into practical BVI-made products.
- Informed Choices: Our community makes conscious consumer decisions about the products we use, where we source them, and how we manage them.
SECTOR
INNOVATION
REGION
INTERNATIONAL
OUR GOAL
To foster a society of community-minded individuals who value local tradition and our natural resources, using innovation to enhance the quality of life for all.
We achieve this when:
-
International Collaboration: We partner with leading international agencies to bring world-class innovation, technology, and technical expertise to the BVI.
-
Disaster Resilience: Our local economy and infrastructure are built to withstand and recover swiftly from natural disasters.
-
Food Security: Our community has the knowledge, skills, and localized systems required to grow our own food.
-
Economic Competitiveness: BVI businesses offer high-quality, diversified products and services that thrive both locally and internationally.
-
Purpose-Driven Enterprise: Local businesses are robust, delivering meaningful social and environmental benefits to the community.
-
Self-Reliance: Our population has reduced dependence on imports to meet core basic needs through sustainable, technology-driven solutions.
SECTOR
EDUCATION
REGION
BVI
OUR GOAL
To drive positive behaviour change through targeted, dynamic outreach programmes that empower individuals to think critically, honour local culture, protect the environment, and reach their full potential - both locally and globally.
We achieve this when:
-
Applied Innovation: Our community uses critical thinking and creative tools to solve complex challenges.
-
Career Excellence: Individuals possess the skills needed to secure and excel in local and international employment.
-
Leadership by Example: Our people lead by example, showing other communities how to meet their needs sustainably.
SECTOR
ENERGY
REGION
VIRGIN GORDA & TORTOLA
OUR GOAL
We use the sun, wind and water we are blessed with to generate clean, affordable, renewable and resilient energy.
We’ve achieved this when:
- 30% of energy needs are provided from renewable sources by 2030.
- Renewables are duty exempt.
- Our dependence on expensive, polluting, imported fossil fuels is reduced.
- Energy demand decreases as our buildings are efficiently designed and we practice energy conservation.
SECTOR
WATER
REGION
VIRGIN GORDA & TORTOLA
OUR GOAL
To ensure our drinking water supply is storm-resilient, reliable, and clean, while safeguarding a thriving marine environment with healthy coral reefs, abundant fisheries, and sustainable tourism.
We achieve this when:
- Integrated Water Management: Advanced, resilient management frameworks govern both our drinking water generation and sewage treatment systems.
- Pollution Prevention: Effective land-based controls prevent toxic pollutants and untreated runoff from entering our freshwater and coastal waters.
- Ecosystem Regeneration: Coral reefs actively regenerate, driving measurable increases in local fish and marine populations.
- Community & Ecological Harmony: Residents and visitors enjoy a high quality of life while harmoniously engaging with the natural beauty of our islands.
Go Green
Donate Today
Contact Us
“What Happens to Your Glass?”