Recycling Rates are Up

Virginia is recycling more than ever.  The Virginia Department of Envionmental Quality's recycling report for 2010 shows the state reused or recycled more than 3.4 million tons of material, a little over 40% of the state's total solid waste.  The percentage is all-time high for Virginia.  All 71 municipalities tracked in the report met recycling goals for the year.

In Hampton Roads, the recycling rate has grown significantly in recent years, climbing from 31% in 2008 to over 39% last year.  Richmond is the state's recycling leader, with over 55% of its solid waste stream being reused or recycled.

State environmental officials credited the spread of curbside recycling for the growth in the recycling rate.  Suffolk, which dropped curbside recycling in 2007, restarted their program this year.

Links:

News report from the Virginia Gazette

The DEQ report