This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup. 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 local news, The Department of Public Works (DPW) is launching the Volunteer Neighborhood Cleanups this weekend. You can contact the Clean City Commission Liaison at (804)646-8325 or Darlene.Mallory(at)richmondgov.comto to set up a volunteer cleanup for your neighborhood. Oregon Hill’s dates would be April 27 & September 14. This is a volunteer run program with assistance from DPW.

Guidelines:

– Neighborhood cleanups are scheduled from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturdays
– Department of Public Works will dispatch specific vehicles to individual cleanups
-Neighborhoods should have volunteers to assist getting items onto the trucks
-The Clean City Commission can provide supplies such as bags, litter grabbers and gloves upon request
-Acceptable items for pickup include: bulk household trash, yard waste; and furniture
-All brush must be cut into 4-foot lengths
-Unacceptable items include: items weighing more than 50lbs., broken glass, and building materials, hazard waste

These events are separate from the 5th District Cleanups sponsored by Councilperson Agelasto’s office.

In state news, Norfolk could be ditching curbside recycling this spring. TFC Recycling said in a post on its website the city is considering getting rid of curbside services after March 31.The company said in the post over 75 percent of Norfolk residents recycle on a regular basis, but the city claims the recycling market is facing challenges nationwide.

Also, Fairfax County is exploring a new use for glass by using crushed glass in a construction project for the first time. While crushing about 20 tons of glass per hour, Fairfax County’s pulverizing machine breaks down glass that will help replace sewer pipes at a plant in Western Fairfax County. Since Fairfax County’s recycle program has a single-stream that combines all recyclables in one bin, glass has become a problem. So, instead of recycling glass it is crushed and used as bedding and fill material to be placed around sanitizing sewer pipes.