Fairfax County residents and businesses are recycling a greater percentage of their waste than ever before, according to a report issued this week by the county.
The county recycled 38 percent of its waste during 2007, a record high and an increase of 3 percent over the previous year, according to the state-mandated report. That’s a total 488,492 tons of material, according to Pamela Gratton, Fairfax County recycling manager.
Gratton credits the increase to several factors. Foremost, businesses are recycling more paper and cardboard — which together account for just under 50 percent of the county’s garbage — after new requirements were established in July. There was also a slight drop in the amount of trash generated in Fairfax, which increased the proportion of recycling in the overall load of waste.
In addition, Gratton is “hoping that it is a behavioral change due to increased emphasis on the environment.”
Garbage and recycling collection in the county is done mainly through private collectors, with the government hauling for 45,000 residential customers. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality requires that a quarter of all waste generated in a jurisdiction be recycled.
Meanwhile, Fairfax County announced the cost of disposing of trash at the county’s disposal facilities will increase by $5 per ton to make up for budget cuts. The average household, according to a news release, will see its waste collection fees increase by about $1 a month as a result.
