The Recycling Partnership partners with Roanoke, Virginia

The Recycling Partnership, Falls Church, Virginia, has announced that Roanoke, Virginia, is its fourth partner city from its 2014 grant cycle.

Roanoke has spent the past year making improvements to its recycling program, moving from dual-stream collection that alternated weeks for fiber and containers to a fully automated program with carts at each household and RFID (radio frequency identification) readers to track participation. The Recycling Partnership has given the city a grant to assist with education and outreach procurement. In addition, the city has received customized education campaign and operational assistance to support cart distribution, which will begin mid-August.

"Roanoke's program expansion will be an important step in boosting the supply of recyclables," says Megan Daum, vice president of sustainability at the Can Manufacturers Institute, Washington, and chairman of The Recycling Partnership.  "The more residents of Roanoke recycle, the more local industries can use those recyclables to make new consumer goods.  That's a win for the economy and the environment."

The Recycling Partnership says its three other 2014 grant recipients, Florence, Alabama; Columbia, South Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia, are well on their way with program transitions.  Florence has completed cart distribution, and both Columbia and Richmond have begun distributing carts to all households. Carts distribution from all 2014 grantees, which will be delivered to over 140,000 homes, will be complete by October 2015, the organization says.

The Recycling Partnership is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to improving recycling programs nationwide. Through grant programs and free newsletters, webinars, workshops and tools, The Recycling Partnership seeks to provide practical and tactical assistance regarding recycling to communities. According to the organization, the best management practices and communications the cities receive through the partnership will benefit more than 1 million households in 2015.