Powhatan, Virginia, expands recycling

Powhatan is one of 13 localities belonging to the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA) to enact the change.

 

Previously the county could not recycle most plastics, except for narrow-neck polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles. As of Friday, July 1, 2016, the convenience center also accepts plastics Nos. 3-7 and wax cartons, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. 

 

“It is additional recycling that wasn’t previously available,” Utilities Manager Johnny Melis told the newspaper. “People would either dispose of it in their trash or take it somewhere else to dispose of it. Everything recycled stays out of the solid waste stream and out of the landfills.”

 

He added, “Citizens have been requesting for us to add that service. Other private recycling vendors started doing it, so competition has driven it to happen.”