About Us
About the Virginia Bottle Bill Organization
The Virginia Bottle Bill Organization was started by three dog walkers that were fed up with litter they found on their daily walks. Our concern for the environment, frustration over Virginia’s lousy recycling rates, and the production of ever-increasing mountains of single-use plastic and trash, made us band together to fight for change. Many concerned individuals, environmental groups, and manufacturers are fighting to reduce the use of plastic, and they all support the idea of a bottle bill. Still, none had taken the lead to make it happen. We are stepping in to fill this void. This may be a long fight. The lobby groups in New York state outspent the pro-bottle bill 100 to 1, fighting it over ten years. They eventually lost, and New York now has one of the best recycling rates in the country.
Bottle Bill Virginia Leadership
Rick Galliher
President
I owned the Chantilly franchise of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? for 18 years and have recently retired. I learned a lot about how waste is handled in Northern Virginia, especially how hard it is to recycle our common household items. I am a board member of the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) and their Solid Waste Team Lead, a member of the Virginia DEQ’s Waste Diversion and Recycling Task Force, and a member of the Virginia Recycling Association.
As a dog owner, I have walked my local streets for 20 years and have always picked up litter, seemingly every walk. It’s mostly single use beverage containers. As I talked to fellow dog walkers and neighbors, it was readily apparent that everyone is mad about the litter. As I learned more about deposit systems, it was clear that we needed a place to organize support for a deposit bill. An organized coalition is needed to prove popular support.
Mary Portelly
Sr. Director of Operations
I am a retired Software Engineer/Veterinary Technician (had two careers). I love hiking and dog walking in this beautiful area, and am constantly dismayed at the amount of trash that people leave behind. I look forward to a time when there is more incentive for people to be more conscientious about where their trash ends up.
Jaimi O’Keefe
Legislative Director
Jaimi O’Keefe is an environmental scientist and conservation advocate with a diverse background spanning environmental policy, wildlife conservation, rehabilitation, and education.
As an ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Jaimi is one of 170 global representatives working to educate and mobilize communities through presentations, outreach initiatives, and environmental cleanup events. She specializes in microplastics research and has conducted educational seminars, raising awareness about plastic pollution and its impact on ecosystems.
Jaimi has hands-on experience in wildlife conservation, caring for over 400 species at leading rehabilitation centers such as Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Jungle Gardens, and Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary. She has also played a role in marine conservation as a certified scuba diver, collaborating with organizations like ICARE and the Coral Restoration Foundation to restore Staghorn Coral reefs in Carysfort, Florida Keys.
In addition to fieldwork, Jaimi is actively involved in environmental policy. She currently serves as the Legislative Director for the Bottle Bill Association, advocating for sustainable waste management solutions. Her policy efforts have taken her to Capitol Hill, where she has lobbied for environmental legislation and played a role in the successful passage of key recycling bills in the Senate. She also contributes to environmental education through her work with the James River Association, fostering environmental stewardship among diverse audiences.
Through her expertise, Jaimi continues to drive meaningful change in her community and beyond.
