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Solid Waste Management - Recycling Requirements

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1. Is recycling mandatory in Loudoun County?

Yes. Loudoun County has had a mandatory recycling requirement in place since 1991 for both residents and businesses. New recycling requirements became effective January 1, 2003. These requirements make it mandatory for solid waste collectors to provide curbside recycling service to your home. Multifamily dwellings and apartment complexes will also receive recycling collection services.

2. How does mandatory recycling affect residents?

Residents are required to separate newspapers and magazines, container glass, metal and aluminum cans, and plastic beverage and detergent containers from household waste for recycling. Residents are also required to separate all of the above materials along with cardboard, paperboard, and yard waste, provided that the resident has contracted with a collector that provides recycling services for yard waste.

If you are not currently receiving curbside recycling collection you may take your recyclables to any of the county's recycling drop-off centers.

3. Who collects my recyclables?

Curbside solid waste collection and recycling services in Loudoun County are provided by private solid waste collection firms through contracts with town governments and homeowners associations (HOAs) or by individual subscription.

4. What can I expect from my solid waste collector?

If you receive curbside recycling service, your collector is required to:

• Ensure that recyclables set out for collection are not mixed with trash
• Ensure that recyclables set out for collection are not disposed of as trash
• Provide you with a written statement of collection services
• Provide you with guidelines for setting out trash and recyclables for collection

5. What are the requirements in a homeowners association (HOA)?

HOAs located outside of incorporated towns must comply with the county recycling requirements. Multi-family residential units and apartments must also comply with the county recycling requirements.

6. What are the requirements in an incorporated town?

Incorporated towns are sovereign entities in Loudoun County. Towns are expressly exempt from the county recycling requirements unless they choose to adopt the requirements in part or in whole. Towns may have specific requirements for residents. Contact your town office for more information.

7. What if I don't receive curbside recycling services?

Major solid waste collectors (those operating four or more collection vehicles and/or collecting 2,000 tons or more per year) must provide curbside recycling collection services. If curbside collection is unavailable, deliver your recyclables to one of Loudoun's recycling drop-off centers. To determine if your collector is a major collector, you may contact the Loudoun County Department of General Services, Waste Management Division, at 703-777-0187.

8. What are the requirements if I live in an apartment complex or condominium?

Residents living in apartments or condominiums outside the seven incorporated towns must also comply with the county recycling requirements. The county ordinance requires that apartment owners or managers are responsible for providing a recycling system to tenants. A recycling system may simply be a centrally located recycling collection point for bottles, cans, and paper.

Business owners, property owners or property managers are responsible for ensuring each living unit has access to a recyclables collection container or containers. Property owners or property managers are also responsible for notifying new tenants and/or employees in writing of the recycling requirement. This notification will be given at a minimum, yearly.

9. What information will be provided in the written notification?

At a minimum, the notification will:

• Inform tenants that recycling is mandatory in Loudoun County
• List materials which must be recycled
• Describe how recyclable materials will be prepared
• List any set-out requirements
• Identify the location of recycling containers
• Inform tenants that improper disposal of recyclables is prohibited
• Provide the collection schedule for recyclable materials
• List the name and telephone number of a representative of the business or facility who can be contacted with any questions

10. What are the "Set-Out" Requirements?

Recyclable materials will be set out separately from solid waste. Recyclable materials shall not be set out in plastic bags, nor shall plastic bags be deposited in recycling containers. Newspapers, magazines, and cardboard will be separated and not mixed with other materials. Glass, metal, and plastics can be mixed. Any yard waste to be recycled will be in brown paper bags or set out in reusable containers.