Richmond E-Cycle Day This Saturday

Richmond E-Cycle Day Scheduled for September 11

~Paper shredding and the collection of electronics, household hazardous waste items and oil-based paints ~

WHO: Department of Public Works

WHAT: Richmond E-Cycle Day for City of Richmond Residents

•All residents must:
◦Wear a face covering
◦Stay in their car during the event and roll the windows down
◦Note: volunteers will take items out of your car

•Paper Document Shredding
◦Up to five (5) boxes of paper documents. Be sure to remove all binders, staples and clips

•Electronics (various fees apply)
◦Computer systems (hard drive or CPU) and accessories (cables, wires, keyboards, mice, speakers, etc.) VCRs, camcorders, stereos and all phones
◦Televisions, computer monitors and printers

•Household Hazardous Waste Items 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.

WHEN: Saturday, September 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Broad Rock Sports Complex, 4825 Old Warwick Road (23224)

BACKGROUND: The City of Richmond’s E-Cycle Day offers City residents an efficient option to recycle paper and to help keep hazardous waste materials out of city waterways, streams and rivers. This event is available to city residents – proof of residency is required.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Thursday

This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which NORMALLY means trash and recycling pickup. But due to the Labor Day holiday, Oregon Hill’s pickup will be Thursday morning this week.

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.

Then again, recent worker shortages may hinder the pickup

In other recycling news, bottle bill supporters are lobbying with increased vigor as they are planning national bottle bill legislation that is separate from Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.

School Bus Slighting Of Oregon Hill?

Oregon Hill, in recent years, has grown its younger population- more households have had babies, and more families with children have moved into the neighborhood. It’s been a welcome trend and it speaks to the ‘good bones’ of this historic, urban enclave.

That said, Oregon Hill parents are concerned about the lack of transportation options for getting their children to school, and feel like the public system should be doing more.

“RPS school bus schedules are out. Not a single bus stop in Oregon Hill! It is like we don’t even exist,” is one message that was sent.

Of course, as the pandemic continues, many localities are dealing with a shortage of school bus drivers, and other resource problems, and many are wondering if virus variants of COVID-19 will lead to the schools closing again anyway.

Rumput and All the Saints Theater Company, Sept. 13th

Though All the Saints Theater Company may be best known for founding the annual Halloween Parade that goes through Oregon Hill, they are Richmond’s one and only premiere subversive puppet theater.

On Monday, September 13th, they will performing with Rumput, a local group, at the Firehouse Theater, on Broad Street.

The Rumput performance will include traditional and experimental stringband music by Indonesian composers, newly commissioned scrolling artwork by Javanese artists, and original cinematic shadow theater.

Using their larger than life puppets blessed by the paper mache gods, All the Saints will perform their “Moon Shadow Cabaret,” an exploration of the darkness that seeks the light of the sun. This performance is for all ages, made with adults in mind.

All proceeds go to supporting artists in Indonesia, now the epicenter of the COVID pandemic.

Grace Arents Marker Gone Missing


Oregon Hill residents noticed last night that the Grace Arents historical marker that was next to the St. Andrew’s School on Idelwood has gone missing. A report has been made to the police. Considering the cost of this marker, if this is indeed theft/vandalism, it should qualify for grand larceny.

This is happening at a time of year when the neighborhood sees an uptick of vandalism with the arrival of VCU students. This is also happening at a sensitive time for Grace Arent’s legacy, with her historic affordable housing at Cumberland Linden having recently sold.