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Meet the Waste Watchers Crew
Trashcan Stan is a clever raccoon and the lead mascot for the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority (RVRA) and he’s all about helping everyone sort waste the right way: into trash, recycling, and compost.
In October 2025, our community joined in to help name him. We received over 125 submissions, and the winning entry came from Roanoke County resident Corey Slusher! Congratulations, Corey!
Catchphrase: "It’s Waste Watcher Time!"
Focus: General waste awareness & community clean ups
Benny is an American black bear who loves hiking, fishing, and protecting Virginia’s beautiful trails. He teaches people to pack out what they pack in and leave nature better than they found it.
Catchphrase: "Let’s build a better future, together."
Focus: Outdoor litter prevention & responsible recreation
Opal is a night-shift hero, quietly helping things decompose and return to the earth. She also wants to make sure her friends stay out of your trash and help keep our community clean and free of litter. She’s shy but wise, and always ready with tips and loves organizing a good old community clean up!
Catchphrase: "Trash lids on, critters gone!"
Focus: Keeping nocturnal critters out of your trash, natural waste awareness, community cleanups
Willa is calm, clever, and always keeping an eye on her riverbank friends. She helps everyone understand how trash affects animals downstream.
Blue is playful and curious, sliding through pipes to show how stormwater can carry litter into rivers. He loves storm drain stenciling and splash zone safety and he LOVES his green boots!
Both of these cuties love working with our friends at the Western Virginia Water Authority and our Stormwater Management Teams to keep our waterways clean!
Catchphrase: "Keep It Clean, Jelly Bean!"
Focus: Storm drain awareness & clean water habits, watershed protection & river health
Spencer is proper and polished. He shows how to sort waste the right way and avoid stinky surprises. Always dressed to impress, with a pocket square, of course this sweet fellow is here to help keep things fresh and clean!
Catchphrase: "Clean bins, clear conscience!"
Focus: Trash sorting, odor control, and recycling etiquette
Ridge takes it slow and steady because good compost takes time. He teaches kids how natural waste turns into something beautiful for the earth. He loves our Blue Ridge Mountains, and is proud to represent Virginia’s Blue Ridge!
Catchphrase: "Nature’s not in a hurry. Let’s slow down and sort it out."
Focus: Composting, soil health, and reuse
Tinker might be tiny but she is a mighty little lady who knows that even though she’s small in stature, she can make an impact on keeping our community clean in big ways!
Catchphrase: “Little paws, big impact!”
Focus: No matter how small, every act of keeping our community clean adds up in BIG ways!
Sarah is sweet, smart, and buzzing with knowledge. She loves talking about pollinators, planting native gardens, and how compost helps everything grow. She is so happy that Roanoke is a BEE CITY USA community and this sweet girl is ready to help protect the honeybees in our valley.
Catchphrase: " Healthy soil, happy flowers, busy bees!”
Focus: Composting, pollinator education, and gardens
Brooks is the superhero of our team and he is always looking out for all of his friends that call rivers, streams, lakes and oceans their homes! He’s a spirited fish who swims through the Roanoke River making sure it stays clean. He teaches kids how trash from sidewalks and streets can pollute his watery home.
Catchphrase: "What hits the street, hits my stream!"
Focus: Waterway health & pollution prevention
Sky is our wise and watchful bald eagle who soars high above the Blue Ridge, keeping an eye on safety for everyone in the RVRA Waste Watchers.
He’s brave, responsible, and has a big heart, especially when it comes to protecting people, pets, and the planet from dangerous waste. He is the guardian of our Waste Watchers crew!
Catchphrase: “Be smart. Be safe. Be Waste Watcher strong.”
Focus: Proper disposal of hazardous & flammable waste