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, a recycling center in Chesapeake, VA caught fire Saturday afternoon causing a cloud of gray smoke that could be seen for miles.

On the national front, as reported by Waste Advantage magazine, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Co-Chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus, along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee, and John Boozman (R-Ark.), Co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus and member of the EPW Committee, introduced two pieces of legislation focused on improving the nation’s recycling and composting systems.

The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act would require the EPA to collect, and make publically available, data on recycling and composting rates across the country, while the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act would establish a pilot rural recycling program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “When we look at opportunities for reducing pollution and waste and creating good-paying jobs domestically, recycling is an area that unites most Americans,” Chairman Carper said. “Yet, our nation continues to recycle only about one-third of the products we consume each year, leading to more and more waste overflowing from our landfills and polluting our oceans. To address this growing problem, I’m pleased to introduce a pair of bipartisan bills with Senators Capito and Boozman that would help strengthen our nation’s recycling and composting efforts. Our legislation would improve data collection for our nation’s recycling systems, explore opportunities for a national composting strategy, and expand recycling access in underserved communities. These commonsense solutions will move us closer to creating a more sustainable, circular economy and leaving behind a livable planet for future generations, which we all want.”

In international news, researchers at the University of Bath have developed a method for upcycling plastic waste at room temperature.

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, Piedmont Virginia Community College was found to be fraudulent in their recycling by one of their own graduates.

On a more positive note, the federal government is growing its ‘efforts to ramp up momentum on recycling-related action.’

Many neighbors had a surprise pickup this past week, but 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, three General Assembly proposals to impose a fee on manufacturers selling products in Virginia based on how much packaging they use were stopped by a Republican-led House subcommittee last week. One of the proposals was from Oregon Hill’s delegate Betsy Carr. The corporations who have undue influence on Virginia’s government want to avoid responsibility and continue to force all of it on consumers.

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.

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.

Update: CVWMA made this announcement:

Sunday Update: We expect a one- to two-day delay to most Red Week recycling collections as crews work to catch up from last week.
On Monday, Jan. 10, crews will collect Blue Friday. They also will collect some missed Blue Thursday.
We advise you to leave your container out until it is collected, if you are able. We will provide updates as we learn them at CVWMA.com.
Once again, the delays are caused by COVID-19 illnesses and weather from early last week. We realize this is an inconvenience for many and appreciate your patience.

In recycling news, with the new year, Virginia cities and counties can begin imposing a 5-cent fee for “each disposable plastic bag provided to shoppers in local grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies.” The fee is an option that must be approved by local community leaders. So far, the cities of Alexandria, Fredericksburg and Roanoke and the counties of Arlington and Fairfax have begun charging the fee.

In international recycling news, the United Kingdom is digesting a new report on its recycling efforts. Defra, the British government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, published a progress report on England’s recycling efforts for the year 2020.

City of Richmond VA Public Works
Please save the date for our next E-Cycle Event:
Bring One for the Chipper
Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1710 Robin Hood Road (Arthur Ashe Blvd & Robin Hood Road)
The event includes:
• Christmas Tree Recycling (remove all decorations, ornaments and tinsel)
• Document Shredding (up to five (5) boxes of documents. Be sure to remove all binders, staples and clips)
• Electronics (various fees apply)
• Pesticides, Herbicides and Oil-based Paints (bug spray, rodent poison and herbicides (Roundup, Weed B Gon etc.)
Note: Latex and water based paints will NOT be collected. These items can be left in open paint cans until they have dried out and then put in with regular curbside trash pick-up.

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…Hampton Roads is mulling changes in its recycling program. Glass remains an issue.

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…The Virginia Mercury had a recent story about how state agencies are attempting to comply with Governor Northam’s executive order to phase out single-use plastics with an ultimate goal of eliminating their use by the end of 2025, while manufacturers and chemical companies are pushing back against regulation.

Meanwhile on the national level, as reported by Inside Climate News, President Biden’s infrastructure bill includes money for recycling, but the debate over plastics rages on – The industry sees bipartisan support for “sustainable” plastics, while environmentalists call that an oxymoron and say the funding will have limited impact.

Getting back to the local level, W. Cary Street and Belvidere Street have seen an increase in plastic litter as more fast food businesses have moved into the neighborhood. In other parts of the City, neighborhoods are directing parking permit money towards anti-litter programs.

The James River Association recently released 2021 State of the James, a biennial report card examining the status and trends of eighteen separate indicators across two categories, River Health and River Restoration Progress, that are interconnected and build on each other to achieve a healthy James River.
The overall health of the river has received a grade “B-” with a score of 61%. Although the grade for the James has remained in the B- range since 2015, the overall score dropped one point from 2019 and two points since the recent high of 63%.
Plastic pollution is the most common type of marine litter worldwide and a problem for Virginia’s rivers and streams including the James, threatening native wildlife and our marine ecosystems. Plastic does not biodegrade. Instead, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that persist in the environment and can work their way up the food chain to the fish that we eat. Virginians deserve plastic-free waterways, and we all have a role to play in accomplishing that goal.

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…

There’s still a lot of public interest in a bottle bill…
https://richmond.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-for-nov-14-2021-bottle-bill-could-improve-recycling-in-virginia/article_5ca1c73d-3dfa-58a1-81ff-1afc477a4a12.html

There’s also a lot of hope and expectations for the recently passed infrastructure bill.

Recycling and waste groups say other infrastructure bill-related funding for recycling education grants could be “years” away. Advocacy groups are particularly focused on the infrastructure bill’s inclusion of the RECYCLE Act, which aims to improve residential recycling by authorizing up to $15 million per year in recycling education grants over five years, through 2026.

Stakeholders have long said the bill’s funding for recycling projects shows the Biden administration recognizes recycling as critical to national infrastructure, but they say the true litmus test will be in how successfully the EPA actually rolls out the grant programs the bill promises.

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.”’