Public Works and Environmental Services Alert:
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.
SWMP operates and maintains a waste transfer station, two closed municipal solid waste landfills, a regional ashfill, and two recycling and disposal facilities.
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.
Grind brush and leaves into mulch for reuse. The mulch is offered free to residents.
Transport yard waste to regional commercial composting facilities where they are processed into compost, mulch, and soil amendments.
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).
Collect computers, phones, cameras, televisions, fax machines, portable gaming devices, VCRs, video equipment, audio equipment, stereo equipment, and solar panels for recycling.
Safely recycle or dispose of waste cooking oil, motor oil, and antifreeze.
Recycle metal and appliances like refrigerators by safely removing freon.
Collect, store, and transfer waste from home renovation projects to King George County, Virginia, to be landfilled.
Collect glass deposited in the purple cans so that it can be made into food and beverage containers, fiberglass insulation, and reflective materials.
Collect food scraps for a regional commercial composting facility where it is recycled into compost, mulch, and soil amendments.
Recycle tires from passenger vehicles and light trucks.
Collect paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, steel, and milk and juice cartons for recycling.
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.
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.