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Norfolk Recycling Rate Hits Record High
(Norfolk, VA, March 6, 2007) – More Norfolk residents are recycling than ever before, with the city’s “set-out” rate reaching 57% in January of this year, according to the Southeastern Public Service Authority and Keep Norfolk Beautiful. It’s the highest such rate in Norfolk since the launch of the “Big Easy” recycling program in April, 2004. The “set-out rate” refers to the number of households placing filled recycling containers at the curb for collection.
“This record high rate is great news for the environment and for taxpayers,” said Debra Devine, Director of Recycling. “Curbside recycling in Norfolk is diverting at least 1,000 tons of waste away from the landfill. It also is reducing the city’s tipping fees to $57,000 per month, or $684,000 annually. We look forward to seeing recycling continuing to increase in Norfolk.”
Norfolk civic league support of curbside recycling will be recognized through cash awards to civic leagues that have increased their neighborhoods’ participation in the program or have maintained an above-average set-out rate.
Statistics recently released by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality show that the recycling rate in the six cities and two counties served by SPSA is above the state average. It reached 40.2% in 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available, compared to the statewide average of 32.2%. The “Big Easy” recycling program replaced 18-gallon recycling bins with 95-gallon containers that can be rolled to the curb for automated collection. For more information, contact Felicia Blow at (757) 420-4700.
SPSA has been providing
efficient and environmentally sound waste disposal services to the region
and its residents since 1985. SPSA’s solid waste management system
includes waste-to-energy, yard waste composting, drop-off and curbside
recycling as well as other recycling programs, household hazardous waste
collection, landfilling, landfill gas-to-energy and education programs.
This integrated waste management system enables SPSA to put 57% of the
waste it receives to a beneficial use, thus allowing the region to reduce
its dependence on landfills.
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