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"Buy Recycled" Efforts in Virginia
Compiled by Robert L. Arner, NVPDC
"Buy Recycled" Virginia campaign to support the market for recycled materials has steadily grown, and now includes more than 80 large and small businesses, governmental and environmental organizations, and others all across Virginia.
In 1995 the Virginia Recycling Machinery and Equipment Tax Credit Program accepted 445 applications valued at 332 million dollars.
Americans generated some 200 million tons of municipal waste, apart from the 13 billion tons of other types of nonhazardous waste.
The largest export of materials in the U.S. is scrap paper (one billion dollars worth in 1994) and steel (eight million tons in 1994).
Each year Americans generate 100 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) waste. In Virginia, C&D recovery activity is more apparent around urban regions, with seven companies and 15 companies/organization recycling wood.
In 1995 in Virginia alone, 1 to 1.5 million tons of asphalt was taken up or milled off and reused (98% is recycled into new asphalt pavement).
The Commonwealth runs 81 curbside programs and maintains 575 drop-off sites and 20 MRFs.
It has been calculated that the recycled paper industry in the Commonwealth contributes $537 million dollars and 3,810 jobs from 127 firms.
DEQ reported recycling in 1993 as being 348,000 tons OCC; 198,000 tons ONP, and 232,000 tons of mixed paper.
In Virginia, steel is accepted for recycling at 27 scrap processors and four auto shredder companies.
Virginian's recycled 25,452 tons of aluminum in 1991, and 35,005 tons in 1993. There are 50 buy-back recycling programs in Virginia.
There are 15 yard trimming compost facilities in Virginia. Diverting and composting yard waste could annually save Virginians $30 million.
Of the 140,000 tons of glass generated each year in Virginia, 15,000-40,000 tons of glass were not recycled.
Approximately 35,260 tons and 82,152 tons of recycled glass containers were collected in 1991 and 1993.
Cycle Systems Chester glass processing plant receives glass from approximately 20 Virginia companies.
In the state, 13 million gallons of used oil are available for recycling every year either as a fuel or new lubricant.
There are 10.4 million light duty oil filters generated in the Commonwealth every year.
1.5 million gallons of discarded antifreeze is generated each year in Virginia.
H R. Frazier Inc., of Salem, Virginia processes about 3,000 mainframe computers a year for reuse, and recently boosted reconditioning from 300 to 3,000 old personal computers a month. Their projected revenue is $8 million.
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