By John Carlock
HRPDC Deputy Executive Director

Under contract with the Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia (SPSA), the HRPDC staff has completed the annual recycling rate report for recycling activities in the eight Southside Hampton Roads localities that are covered by SPSA.  These include Chesapeake, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Southampton, Suffolk and Virginia Beach, as well as the eight towns in Isle of Wight and Southampton Counties.    The Virginia Code and the Virginia Regulations for Solid Waste Management Planning require each city, county, town or region to maintain a minimum 25% recycling rate and to report activities within the area on an annual basis.  Historically, SPSA has been responsible for reporting recycling activities for its service area.  Reported activities include both public and private efforts.

On September 13, 2010, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality advised the HRPDC that DEQ had completed its review and accepted the region’s report.  For Calendar Year 2009, the Southside Hampton Roads area achieved a recycling rate of 32.7%, which exceeds the state requirement.  DEQ also advised that for the first time, all regions of the state were able to achieve at least the minimum.