By Sherron Simpson

For the first time, Richmond-area residents are recycling more trash than they throw away, according to new state figures.

The Central Virginia Waste Management Authority reported a recycling rate of 50.3 percent for 2007. That was up from 46.3 percent in 2006.

“This is great,” said Nancy Drumheller, public information coordinator for the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority. The agency serves the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan, and Prince George, and the cities of Richmond, Hopewell, Colonial Heights and Petersburg.

The CVWMA recycled 544,756 tons of material in 2007. That’s a third more than the year before.

The figures are contained in a report released by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The report details the recycling rates for the 74 solid waste planning units in Virginia.

Only three areas besides Central Virginia had recycling rates above 50 percent. They were the town of Vinton (55.7 percent), the city of Falls Church (53 percent) and the town of Vienna (52.6 percent).

John Martin is a Chesterfield resident and has been recycling for seven years.

“I recycle everything,” Martin said. “I receive a lot of samples from my job, so I recycle bottles, paper, boxes and cases.”

Martin is the retail sales supervisor for General Mills. He says General Mills is very big on recycling and encourages employees to recycle not only on the job but at home also.

“We are required to take ‘green tests,’” said Martin. “The tests monitor how we recycle and conserve energy in the office and at home.”

The tests are mandated periodically and helps General Mills stay on track of being a green company. The test asks employees such questions as ‘Do you recycle?’, ‘Do you leave your lights on?’ and ‘Do you leave your computer on?’

The Virginia Recycling Association reaches out to companies and businesses like General Mills to provide guidance and education about recycling.

Erica Trout, association manager of VRA, says recycling not only helps the environment but also brings employment to Virginia.

“A recycling industry has been created in Virginia,” Trout said. “There are localities that now have jobs for recycling and more recycling businesses are coming to the state. The VRA is for people who work in the industry.”

Statewide, the recycling rate increased only slightly – from 38.4 in 2006 to 38.5 percent in 2007.

Steve Coe, recycling and grants program manager of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, says it’s up to individuals to recycle.

“People do not recycle all the time,” he said. “The ones that do participate and recycle in weekly collections and continue to stop at the drop-off points have internal incentives to do the right thing.”

DEQ’s job is to obtain and organize the recycling data from the localities. The department also provides guidance and networking opportunities for local governments.

The recycling rate includes numbers from residents, businesses, government offices, libraries and schools. The rates are calculated by dividing the amount of recycled goods by the total amount of all municipal solid waste generated.

In 1989, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law requiring solid waste planning units to achieve a recycling rate of 25 percent.

As of 2006, 27 localities had not met that level. There are no serious penalties for not reaching the goal.

“Our concern is not to penalize but to try to get them as close to tier mandate as possible,” said Coe.

In 2006, the 25 percent mandatory rate was divided into two tiers. Now localities must recycle either 15 percent or 25 percent of their municipal solid waste based on their population, unemployment rate, population density and other factors.

“Most of the urban localities are doing well because they have the resources to put toward recycling programs and a denser population that makes collection easier,” Coe said.

Recycling isn’t new, but more people are starting to participate.

“The recent talk about climate is probably what spurred all the different movements toward reusable sources and recycling,” Trout said.

“At the core, it is just about being a conscientious consumer.”

Sherron Simpson is a student in the multimedia master’s journalism program at Virginia Commonwealth University.