Home > Norcross.Talk > Archives > 2007 > January > 07
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Trash talk: Mandatory recycling in Gwinnett?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Gwinnett County Commission recently took a fact-finding trip to Fairfax County, Virginia, a county similar to Gwinnett in size, population and location within a major metropolitan area.
The matters discussed included transportation, economic development, education and healthcare.
Fairfax has a very innovative program that, unfortunately, was not a part of the discussion.
It should have been.
In 1988 Fairfax County began a pilot program that in 1992 became a mandatory recycling program throughout the county.
It’s a simple process. Trash is separated into two containers. Fiber products are placed in one container, such as newspaper, cereal boxes and cardboard. Plastic, metal and glass are put in the other container.
From there, the recyclable materials are delivered to a privately owned Materials Recovery Facility then sorted by type and, in the case of glass, color. After that, they are processed and prepared for sale to recyclable materials brokers or directly to manufacturers.
For example, fiber products are sold to Capitol Fiber. It sells the recycled paper to Canusa Fibers, which then produces newsprint purchased by the Washington Post. Thereby “a clear product life cycle” is created for newsprint widely circulated in Fairfax County,” said Merni Fitzgerald, director of public affairs for Fairfax County.
Fairfax County currently recycles approximately 30 percent (over 400,000 tons annually) of all solid waste generated within the county.
Aside from the 400,000 tons of solid waste Fairfax recycles annually, Fitzgerald says the program has led to several benefits, including:
Reduced impact on air, water and soil because recyclables are not sent to a landfill.
A reduced need to use paper products, therefore reduced emissions from paper pulping plants and paper mills, many of which are located in Virginia.
Less timber extraction.
Learning opportunities for school-age children in the county.
Offset tipping fees for the disposal of trash (currently $46.95/ton)
I would encourage the Gwinnett County Commission to take a very close look at this program and consider implementing it countywide. Perhaps someday, Gwinnett can reduce its need for four landfills.
What amount of recycling do you do in your home or office now? Would you support a mandatory recycling program similar to Fairfax County’s?
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Woody Bass
