Recycling programs are expanding across the Washington region, a recent survey shows.
The Northern Virginia Regional Commission’s eighth annual survey of solid waste services, which polled governments in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia, shows municipal recycling services are available to more than 1 million households — an increase of 8.66 percent over last year.
The percentage of people who actually make use of recycling programs, however, has stayed about the same in recent years, said Debbie Spiliotopoulos, senior environmental planner for the regional commission.
“[Governments are] providing quite a bit more services to their residents,” she said.
With increasing costs of disposal and high gas prices, she said there is now a strong market for recycled materials.
Localities have also increased collection of electronic waste, which can release toxins into landfills if disposed of improperly, Spiliotopoulos said.
“Looking at the number of companies in this area and the life cycle of electronics, [electronic waste] is just going to be a growing and growing issue,” she said.
