Central Virginia Recycled 57.7% of its Solid Waste in 2022

February 23, 2024 | Published by Julie Buchanan

The Central Virginia region recycled 606,497 tons, or 57.7%, of its solid waste in 2022, according to information gathered by the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority.

The authority is required annually to compile the regional recycling rate and submit a report to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

The region comprises the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond, the town of Ashland, and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan and Prince George.

The localities also make up the CVWMA member jurisdictions.

State law requires the region to recycle at least 25% of its solid waste each year. The statewide recycling rate in 2022 was 43.1%.

More information on statewide recycling activity is available in the DEQ 2022 Annual Recycling Rate Report.

The recycling rate is calculated by dividing the amount recycled in the region by the amount of trash generated. CVWMA uses a national estimate of 4.9 pounds of trash per person per day, multiplied by the region’s population of 1.2 million, to estimate the total amount of trash.

Top Recycled Materials

Yard and wood waste, which is composted or chipped into mulch, was the top recycled item in 2022, with 266,230 tons. Cardboard, paper, cans, bottles and containers accounted for 125,489 tons. Metal made up 141,667 tons.

The amount recycled is gathered voluntarily from businesses operating in the region.

For more information, including monthly reports on CVWMA’s residential programs, visit www.cvwma.com/cvwma-data-center/.

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