This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which hopefully means trash and recycling pickup. I say hopefully, because the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority has struggled to maintain its schedule due to a shortage of workers and has missed some pickups recently and had to reschedule. That said, as neighbors, we should do our best to help.

One tool that might help ameliorate the situation if pickup does not come is this online form:
https://cvwma.com/programs/residential-recycling/recycling-service-request-form/

Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news…

High aluminum prices, supply chain issues create ‘best of times and the worst of times’ for recyclers is the headline for a waste dive.com industry report. In it, Michael Benedetto, president and owner at TFC Recycling in Virginia is quoted:

“Aluminum seemed to be the laggard behind paper and some other commodity prices going up, and we were baffled by that… It’s been refreshing to see all commodity prices improved from where they were in 2019 and part of 2020.”

But the piece goes on to say that complicating factors like transportation and supply chain difficulties are creating a bittersweet moment for many aluminum recyclers that can’t easily get their product to market.

Reuters has an article about how

‘Consumer goods giants are funding projects to send plastic trash to cement plants, where it is burned as cheap energy. They’re touting it as a way to keep plastic out of dumps and use less fossil fuel. Critics say it undercuts recycling efforts and worsens air quality. One said it was “like moving the landfill from the ground to the sky.”’