On October 16, 2012, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released the Commonwealth’s annual report on recycling at solid-waste facilities in 2011. For that year, 71 “solid waste planning units” (which are either a local government or a regional authority) recycled 43.5 percent of municipal and other solid wastes, an increase over the 2010 rate of 40.5 percent and the 2009 rate of just under 39 percent. 2010 was the first time that the statewide rate had exceeded 40 percent since Virginia set minimum recycling rates for localities and authorities in 1989. The minimum rates are as follows: 25 percent for each planning unit, but 15 percent for planning units where the population density is less than 100 people per square mile or the unemployment rate is 50 percent or more above the statewide unemployment average. Source:Virginia issues 2011 recycling report, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality News Release, 10/16/12.
Here are some news accounts on the recycling report from various Virginia areas:
Virginia, Hampton Roads recycling rates improve, Virginian-Pilot, 10/16/12; Roanoke’s recycling rate still rising gradually, Roanoke Times, 10/18/12; Localities recycling more of their waste, Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, 10/21/12.
The report for 2011, along with more information on state recycling programs, is available online at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/LandProtectionRevitalization/RecyclingandLitterPreventionPrograms.aspx.
Reports for 2010 and for previous years are available online at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/LandProtectionRevitalization/RecyclingandLitterPreventionPrograms/Recycling.aspx.
For the News Grouper’s item on the 2010 report, please see Virginia Recycling Report for 2010 Issued by Department of Environmental Quality, posted 11/9/11.
