In honor of America Recycles Day on November 15, state environmental agencies undertook a number of initiatives. Here is just a sampling:
Virginia Reports on Positive Recycling Trends
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 2017 Recycling Summary Report. Based on data from 117 local governments across the Commonwealth, the state recycling rate is 42.8 percent, which continues the positive trend in Virginia’s recycling efforts.
“The trend for Virginia continues to move in a steady, positive direction,” said DEQ Land Protection and Renewal Division Director Justin Williams. “For example, four years ago the rate was 41 percent, which was well above the state mandated rate of 25 percent. Today, we have nine local planning units reporting amounts that are near 50 percent or higher.”
More than 100 Virginia cities, counties and towns, which are organized into 17 solid waste planning units, are required by law to achieve and maintain a minimum rate of 25 percent. For calendar year 2017, the planning units reported the disposal of more than four tons of municipal solid waste and nearly 3.6 million tons of recycled materials. Recycled materials included 2.6 million tons of recyclables such as paper and glass and nearly 1 million tons of other types of waste.
DEQ works closely with local and regional litter prevention and recycling programs to maintain mandated recycling rates. DEQ’s Office of Pollution Prevention and the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program also work directly with businesses and agencies to encourage recycling and source reduction statewide.
For more information, visit here www.DEQ.Virginia.gov.
Ohio Plans Statewide Glass Recycling Initiative
To support recycling efforts, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a statewide glass recycling initiative to build an infrastructure to recover more glass in the state. The agency will work to establish nine regional glass recovery centers, expand the capacity of glass recycling at materials recovery facilities, and develop voluntary bar and restaurant recycling programs in communities across the state.
Ohio EPA notes that because recycling is becoming a big business in the state, every time someone recycles, it also supports the many companies and employees doing this important work.
Wyoming Offers Comprehensive Guide on Recycling Facilities
Meanwhile, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recognized the important role that recycling plays in the state by publicizing a comprehensive guide on recycling facilities in or near several communities.
“There are many recycling facilities located across the state, and…they are able to reduce the amount of waste going into our landfills,” said Luke Esch, Solid and Hazardous Waste Division Administrator. “We want to help encourage their use.”
DEQ points to U.S. EPA statistics that the total generation of municipal solid waste in 2015 was estimated at 262.4 million tons in the United States. That equals 4.48 pounds of waste per person per day. By recycling and reducing waste sent to landfills, communities extend the life of landfills thus reducing costs for waste disposal.
