Procurement and Material Management

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open 8AM-4:30PM M-F
703-324-3201 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Parkway; Suite 427
Fairfax, VA 22035
Lee Ann Pender
Chief Procurement Officer

Department Resources

Zero Waste

 

At Fairfax County government facilities, our goals are to:

Image of zero waste goals

Fairfax County's Zero Waste program works to minimize solid waste in County facilities to close to nothing and to do so through a holistic approach: by rethinking not only how we dispose of materials, but also what we use and how we use it. This is why Fairfax County government's Zero Waste goal is twofold: to decrease by 25% the amount of waste it generates and to divert 90% of its waste from the trash.

While this website focuses primarily on achieving Zero Waste in municipal operations, all are welcome to use and apply the resources to their home and community.

 

Zero Waste logoZero Waste is a philosophy, commitment, and design principle to minimize waste to close to nothing. It requires addressing waste from the creation to the disposal of the things we use.

The concept is about managing materials across their entire lifecycle with a focus on making changes in “upstream” waste reduction as well as “downstream” waste management. 

The best way to minimize waste is to create less of it in the first place! 

Moving toward Zero Waste in Fairfax County can have many social and environmental impacts. Reducing, reusing, and recycling or composting materials all help to create less trash, which leads to less pollution from litter and incineration - both of which tend to disproportionally affect low-income communities and people of color. Looking "upstream" to the source of the waste, the extraction and processing of raw materials to make products can create even greater environmental degradation, pollution, and health hazards. By reducing consumption, reusing as much as possible, and recycling so that waste can be made into new products, positive impacts can be far-reaching. 

Zero Waste efforts can also create opportunities for new, greener business models and innovations around sharing, reusing and salvaging materials. These innovations support a transition to a more sustainable and resilient circular economy that designs out waste and pollution and keeps products and materials in use for as long as possible. 

 

The Fairfax County Government and Schools Zero Waste Plan is a guide for Fairfax County’s municipal and public school operations to transition to a future without waste.

The plan provides direction, recommendations, priorities, and milestones for achieving Zero Waste. It is intended to be a living document that can be revised and updated as the County makes progress. 

The Zero Waste Plan (PDF)

To minimize waste production by Fairfax County government and schools, the Board of Supervisors and School Board's Joint Environmental Task Force recommended that staff develop a Zero Waste Plan to set direction and recommendations. This Plan was then adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2021 and implementation is now underway.

The Zero Waste Core Team is made up of staff from County and Fairfax Public Schools departments. The Team plans and carries out system-wide policies, trains Zero Waste Champions and assists departments with planning and strategy implementation. 

While the Zero Waste program currently focuses on municipal operations, it is aligned with the goals of the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan.

County Employees: Help get Fairfax County to Zero Waste!

COUNTY EMPLOYEES: HELP GET FAIRFAX COUNTY TO ZERO WASTE

A suite of resources for Zero Waste Champions and any other staff involved in the Zero Waste program. The toolkit includes strategies for improving your facility’s reduction, reuse, and recycling; key facts about waste in Fairfax County; guidance on being a Zero Waste leader; and outreach resources.

Zero Waste Champions Toolkit

 

HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE ZERO WASTE?

Achieving zero waste is no small task. It requires the participation of every employee and user of government facilities, as well as County leadership and business partners! 

View below the four pillars, known as the 4 R's, and the 24 priority strategies for Fairfax County's Zero Waste program. 

 

THE 4 R'S

The 4 Rs: Reach Out, Recycle, Reduce, Repurpose/Reuse
Click image to view at full size.

 

THE 24 STRATEGIES

The Zero Waste Plan identified 24 optimal strategies for Fairfax County to prioritize to achieve its Zero Waste goals. These strategies have the highest potential for waste prevention and diversion in Fairfax County facilities:

 

COMING SOON: TRACKING PROGRESS

 

MORE INFORMATION ON ACHIEVING ZERO WASTE

The following resources provide information on Zero Waste practices and strategies:

What Goes Where

The Core Zero Waste Team is here to help you with strategic planning, identifying resources, connecting you with other Champions taking on similar projects and more!

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

 

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