SPSA Tops State Recycling Average

The recycling participation rate in the six cities and two counties served by the Southeastern Public Service Authority in Virginia reached 40.2 percent in 2005, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The figure is from the most recent year for which statistics are available.

Debra Devine, SPSA recycling director, said the volume of primary recycled material rose by 2 percent, supplementary materials by 11 percent and municipal solid waste decreased by 8 percent statewide.

Statewide, the recycling rate was 32.2 percent in 2005 – up from 29.8 percent in 2004. Forty-five of Virginia’s 74 solid-waste management districts reported recycling rates of 25 percent or more in 2005.

However, due to budgetary issues, late last month the SPSA announced plans to reorganize its operations. The decision to change follows a board meeting Jan. 24.

John Hadfield, SPSA’s executive director, proposed reductions in operational and personnel expenses that do not impact SPSA's core contractual services, and referred certain program and operational issues to the Board for consideration.

Key elements of the proposed restructuring plan included:

Reducing certain operating budget expenditures

Outsourcing recycling programs

Selling the Waste-to-Energy system

Exploring managed competition

"Over the years there have been new services requested by the member communities, shifts in costs from the member communities to SPSA, and the addition of services to enhance environmental stewardship. These policy and service adjustments have contributed to SPSA's operating budget increases," said Hadfield.

However, Hadfield added there aren’t any formal plans yet established to make the changes, although the SPSA expects to further develop the plans over the next several weeks.