As part of the City of Charlottesville’s adopted 2025 Vision Statement, today city officials announced the results of a twelve-month enhanced residential recycling pilot program. The plan was designed to build upon an already effective and ongoing curbside single-stream recycling residential collection. Increasing recycling efficiency is an important and integral part of the City’s quest to be a Green City.

The Department of Public Works launched the pilot program on April 1, 2011 in the Greenbrier neighborhood and more than 200 residences were chosen to participate. The details of the program include using a larger capacity recycling cart (96-gallon) and moving to a bi-weekly (from a weekly) pickup schedule. By using the larger capacity cart, many residents were able to recycle up to twice as many items as they could previously. The program is next scheduled to include a portion of the Belmont neighborhood.

“Public Works constantly strives to make recycling easier and more user-friendly for our citizens,” shared Judy Mueller, Director. “Based on the initial success of the Recycling Pilot Program on the Downtown Mall – where businesses, and namely restaurants, were allowed to separate their recyclables – we expanded to a City neighborhood that has had significant participation in recycling, historically. Providing the 96-gallon toters for residents has proven to be quite positive for Greenbrier residents, and we look forward to expanding the program to other City neighborhoods.”

“You hear a lot of talk these days about ‘sustainability,’” notes Tad Phillips, Area Municipal Services Manager for Allied Waste Services. “ Here in Charlottesville it is more than just talk. The City and its residents are demonstrating that the convenience of collection and quality of recovered materials from single-stream recycling translates into measureable results. Allied Waste is proud to work with the City to achieve sustainability objectives, and the pilot recycling program is another step in the process of continual improvement that will meet those goals.”

From the City of Charlottesville’s 2025 Vision Statement

A Green City

Charlottesville citizens live in a community with a vibrant urban forest, tree-lined streets, and lush green neighborhoods. We have an extensive natural trail system, along with healthy rivers and streams. We have clean air and water, we emphasize recycling and reuse, and we minimize storm water runoff. Our homes and buildings are sustainably designed and energy efficient.

About Allied Waste Services, A Republic Services Company

Allied Waste Services of Charlottesville offers the only single-stream recycling program in the area. This allows their customers to place all of their recyclables into one bin. All food and non-recyclable items simply go into a separate bin. This process ensures that recyclables are not contaminated by household waste. Allied Waste Services is committed to educating the public on this process and ensures that 96% of your recyclables are recycled. For individuals and our community at large, this means taking the opportunity to reduce, reuse and recycle. Allied Waste Services is a Republic Services Company.