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    • Environmental Services

    Arlington County's Recycling Programs

     

    Find out more En Español

     

    Do you know what happens to your recyclables after you place them at the curb?  
    Watch this video to find out where it all goes.
    Small Metal Container Moved to Solid Waste Bureau
    The small metal container that was previously located at the corner of Columbia Pike and South Four Mile Run, has been moved to the Solid Waste Bureau located at 4300 29th St. S. Residents can drop off metal items such as pots, pans, tools, pipes, Venetian blinds, small appliances, and other metal items for recycling by calling 703.228.6570 and making an appointment.
    Free Paper Shredding Now Available!
    Available on the first Saturday of each month at the Solid Waste Bureau.
    Limit 2 standard paper grocery bags or 2  per customer. Find out more.
    Make a difference in your community and Adopt-A-Street! Individuals or groups can volunteer to Adopt-A-Street and help support storm water management and litter control by keeping the street, curb, and storm drain free of trash and debris. Find out more!
    Arlington County receives two awards from National Association of Counties for recycling program and new recycling center. Find out more.

     


    Recycling Programs for Residents

    Commercial Recycling Assist-Visit Fee

    All business and multi-family properties located in Arlington County are now required to pay an annual $66 commercial recycling fee. The fee will provide an assist-visit from an inspector to every commercial property in Arlington.   On a yearly basis, an inspector will evaluate your properties recycling program and provide technical assistance to improve its solid waste management system, increase recycling participation, and evaluate cost effectiveness.

    April 28, 2009, the Arlington County Board amended Chapter 10, Section 36 of the County Code to create an annual $66 fee on all business and multi-family properties located in Arlington County. The County Code stipulates that Arlington businesses must recycle the two recyclable materials that they generate in the greatest quantity.  For properties such as office buildings or strip malls where individual businesses do not manage their own refuse removal, the two materials are based on the property’s combined waste stream.  Multi-family properties must provide recycling services for cans, glass bottles and newspaper at a minimum.  Both commercial and multi-family properties are required to have a current recycling plan on file with the County, and periodically disseminate educational materials to staff and residents about their property’s recycling program.

    Payments Now Due
    Properties will receive a letter and invoice requesting payment. Please return the enclosed invoice with a check payable to Arlington County Treasurer, to:
    Solid Waste Bureau
    4300 29th St. S.
    Arlington VA 22206

    If you would prefer to pay by credit card or pay in person, payments are accepted at the Arlington County Treasurer’s window on the second floor of Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. For more information please call 703-228-7623.

     

     Recycling at Businesses and Non-Residential Properties

    All commercial properties in Arlington are required to recycle the top two materials generated annually in the greatest quantity. View the Businesses and Non-Residential Properties Recycling p age to find out more.

    There are also Business Recycling Plan Forms and instructions for businesses available online. Formularios de Plan de Reciclaje de Negocios/Comercial del Condado de Arlington e Instrucciones.

     Recycling at Multi-Family Properties

    Property managers or owners of multi-family properties are required to setup a recycling program. View the Recycling at Multi-Family Properties web page to find out more.

    Multi-family Recycling Plan Forms and instructions are available online. Formularios de Plan de Reciclaje de Viviendas Multifamiliares del Condado de Arlington e Instrucciones

    Property managers or owners are required to setup and maintain a recycling program for residents to recycle:

    • Newspapers
    • Glass bottles and jars
    • Metal food and beverage containers

    Recycling programs may also include plastic bottles and jugs, magazines, mixed paper, and old corrugated cardboard.

     Commercial Waste and Recycling Haulers Reporting Requirements

    Haulers operating in Arlington County are required to submit an annual report documenting the tonnage of materials collected during the preceding calendar year. Numbers are collected for both refuse and recycling and are utilized to determine the County’s recycling rate for the year. Annual commercial hauler reporting requirements and online forms are available.

     Why Recycle?

    Recycling used materials for re-processing is a valuable community service that helps protect our environment. Recycling used materials into new ones reduces the consumption of natural resources; so do source reduction – preventing waste at the source – and reuse. Providing recycled materials to industry instead of virgin materials helps reduce the amount of energy used in production of new materials. Interested in what happens to the recyclable materials that are collected in Arlington? Click here to find out what happens to recyclables in Arlington County.

    The economic benefits of recycling are often overlooked, even though the industry generates $236 billion in annual revenues and employs approximately 1.1 million people, according to a study by the National Recycling Coalition. Arlington County staff estimates that recycling one ton of materials at the curb (on average) saves the County $17 when compared to the cost of disposing of this material at the Waste to Energy Facility, where Arlington's trash goes (519 KB, PDF format) or read a fact sheet about air quality compliance at the Waste to Energy Plant (296 KB, PDF format).

    Recycling is a great way for individuals to contribute to the Earth’s preservation. Thanks to the efforts of Arlington County citizens, the County reported a recycling rate of 31.3% for CY 2003. Click here for more information about Arlington’s recycling rate.

    Recycling preserves natural resources by reducing the need for virgin materials. So do source reduction and reuse. In fact, source reduction and reuse are preferable to recycling because the item does not need to be reprocessed before it can be used again. Find out more about how to Reduce, Reuse, then Recycle.


    Last Modified: August 30, 2010
    2100 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201 Tel: 703-228-3000 TTY: 703-228-4611