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SECTION 3 - Protecting and Enhancing Our Environment:
IV. Solid Waste
In 2002, Virginia placed 15.7 million tons of solid waste in
landfills making the state second in the nation in importing
waste from out-of-state. Current federal laws and court interpretations
discourage recycling. This puts Fairfax County at a competitive
disadvantage with cheaper, less environmentally responsible
forms of disposal.
The County's Energy-Resource Recover Facility (E/ERF) operates
under contract with Covanta Fairfax Inc., currently in bankruptcy.
Dominion Virginia Power buys the electrical power generated
by the facility, but this revenue will decrease beginning in
2005. The County continues to process more tons of solid waste
than is guaranteed to the operator (390,750 tons/year), processing
136,000 tons above guaranty in 2002.
The County has begun a strategic planning program to develop
a new Master Plan for the management of solid waste for the
next 20 years with the assistance of a contractor. The deadline
for submission of the plan to the VA Department of Environmental
Quality is July 1, 2004.
The County is researching equipment needed to detect radioactive
contamination that might enter the solid waste stream.
Since 1988, the County has recycled 3.5 million tons of materials
with a recycling rate of 34 percent, consistently exceeding
the state mandated goal of 25 percent. The County initiated
a Keep It Green Partnership to provide recycling of electronic
equipment.
The Board's Environmental Plan:
- Ensure that the E/ERF facility has
up-to-date technology to remove as many harmful emissions
as possible.
- Continue emphasis on recycling for
residents and businesses; continue the County's current recycling
program of curbside pickup of recyclable bottles, cans, and
newspaper.
- Encourage use of recycled products
to expand the market.
- Increase the county's use of recycled
paper and other products.
- Provide recycling bins in convenient
locations for the public's use.
- Work with our Federal delegation to
overturn the Supreme Court "Carbone" decision that
limits our ability to control the flow of solid waste within
our own boundaries.
SECTION 3 - Protecting and Enhancing
Our Environment:
V. Parks, Trails, Open Space
Open space, like parks and trails, provides habitat and promotes
the physical and mental well being of citizens. Trails promote
a healthy lifestyle. The Cross-County Trail provides a central
artery for a comprehensive inter-county trails system.
The Board's Environmental Plan:
- Create more pocket parks in urban
areas for relaxation and respite.
- Create more community parks for active
and passive recreation--open spaces with native vegetation
to sustain local wildlife and to create areas for walking,
meditating, or bird watching.
- Plan and develop a comprehensive interconnected
trails system throughout the County.
- Continue to acquire open space before
it is too late through direct purchase or conservation easements
to create more trails, connect trails and provide passive
and active recreation areas.
- Provide adequate resources to maintain
and appropriately develop our parks for passive and active
recreation.
- Encourage conservation easements for
open space and trails either to private organizations, such
as the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and The Potomac
Conservancy, or to government agencies like the Fairfax County
Park Authority or the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.
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