The Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP) does not make a profit from its services. Disposal fees reflect the amount it costs SWMP to provide waste and recycling services.
Fees support the 265 SWMP staff and 237 Vehicles and Equipment that operate and maintain 623 acres of land.
Fees also fund services for residents to dispose of hard-to-recycle materials, like e-waste, household hazardous waste, and household appliances.
WHY DID THE RATES GO UP?
You may have noticed that the solid waste commercial and residential fees increased. The cost to operate our facilities along with our contracted recycling and waste disposal service providers have gone up. Also, since the Covid pandemic, the SWMP used reserve funds to minimize cost increases to collectors and residents. To be fiscally responsible, SWMP must reduce reliance on reserve funds and adjust solid waste fees to better reflect the cost to provide County trash and recycling services.
We continue to identify and implement operational changes to reduce costs and rebuild reserves. To support long-term financial sustainability, SWMP will work with a consultant to evaluate the solid waste fee structure and reserve levels. SWMP is also looking to find new revenue streams and align spending with core operations.
WHAT SERVICES DO THE DISPOSAL FEES FUND?
SWMP operates and maintains a waste transfer station, two closed municipal solid waste landfills, a regional ashfill, and two recycling and disposal facilities.
Photos: Click for larger photo.
265 staff
237 Vehicles and Equipment
623 acres of land
The photos below explain what happens to your trash after it is picked up by your collector.
After collecting trash from your curbside container or community dumpster, many collectors take their loads to the I-66 Transfer Station in Fairfax.
The Reworld combustion process turns the trash into ash, which is landfilled on site by SWMP staff at the I-95 Landfill Complex.
Every day, SWMP staff keep county communities clean, safe, and healthy by recycling and disposing of waste and offering the following services to county residents.
Transport yard waste to regional commercial composting facilities where they are processed into compost, mulch, and soil amendments.
Household Hazardous Waste
Safely recycle or dispose of common household hazardous waste items such as pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint, batteries, and products containing mercury (thermometers and fluorescent lights).
Electronics
Collect computers, phones, cameras, televisions, fax machines, portable gaming devices, VCRs, video equipment, audio equipment, stereo equipment, and solar panels for recycling.
Motor and Cooking Oil
Safely recycle or dispose of waste cooking oil, motor oil, and antifreeze.
Scrap Metal and Appliances
Recycle metal and appliances like refrigerators by safely removing freon.
Construction Debris
Collect, store, and transfer waste from home renovation projects to King George County, Virginia, to be landfilled.
Glass
Collect glass deposited in the purple cans so that it can be made into food and beverage containers, fiberglass insulation, and reflective materials.
Food Scraps
Collect food scraps for a regional commercial composting facility where it is recycled into compost, mulch, and soil amendments.
Tires
Recycle tires from passenger vehicles and light trucks.
Mixed Recycling
Collect paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, steel, and milk and juice cartons for recycling.
Environmental Compliance
Operate and maintain environmental controls at the closed portions of the I-95 and I-66 Transfer Station landfills, including monitoring over 300 gas extraction wells.
Want to learn more?
Detailed information on the Solid Waste Management Program budget can be found under Volume 2: Capital Construction and Other Operating Funds in the current year’s adopted County budget plan on the Department of Management and Budget webpage.