Virginia reports 2005 recycling rates.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced that the recycling participation rate in the six cities and two counties served by the state's Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) reached 40.2 percent in 2005.

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

The statewide 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 greater in 2005.

However, because of budgetary issues, in late January the SPSA announced plans to reorganize its operations.

John Hadfield, SPSA 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 and 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," Hadfield says.