Central Virginia Waste Management Authority delivers 95,000 recycling carts

The Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA), a public-service authority based in Richmond, Virginia, is delivering 95-gallon recycling carts to 95,000 households in three central Virginia counties.

CVWMA plans to deliver the carts to all single-family households in Henrico County, Virginia, as well as households that recycle with CVWMA in Hanover and Goochland counties.

“This endeavor is part of a broad, regional approach to increase access to recycling and provide residents with the tools and education they need to be involved,” CVWMA Executive Director Kim Hynes says. “CVWMA is proud to work alongside our many partners to implement this important step toward environmental and economic sustainability.”   

According to a news release from CVWMA, this project represents multiple public-private partnerships and is the largest cart rollout project it has helped with to date. The carts are being funded in part by a $1.5 million grant from The Recycling Partnership, Washington.

“The Partnership, with support from PepsiCo Foundation, is excited to see these recycling carts start to roll out,” says Mari Long, community program manager at The Recycling Partnership. “The carts will provide residents with more capacity to recycle more materials and keep valuable recyclables out of the landfill and as part of the circular economy.”  

In addition to the grant, CVWMA is in the process of securing a catalytic, zero-percent interest loan from New York-based Closed Loop Partners that it would pay back over seven years. CVWMA tells Recycling Today this funding will help to cover the costs of buying, assembling and delivering the 95,000 carts. 

“This collaboration is a key part of our work to advance local collection infrastructure in the U.S., which we view as critical to building a robust recycling value chain and more broadly, a circular economy,” says Jennifer Louie, head of the Infrastructure Group at Closed Loop Partners. “We seek to identify and finance projects like CVWMA’s to advance the transition towards a circular economy.”  

According to CVWMA, Rehrig Pacific Co. manufactured the 95,000 carts, which contain 35 percent postconsumer recycled plastic, with 10 percent sourced from the region’s high-density polyethylene. Additionally, CVWMA says plastic from old Henrico County trash cans has been recycled back into the carts.

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Los Angeles-based Rehrig Pacific leveraged its co-injection molding technology to incorporate 750,000 pounds of recycled plastics into the Kelly-green carts, making the final product easy to distinguish and strengthening the CVWMA brand. CVWMA says the carts contain the highest amount of locally sourced recycled material in the country. 

“Manufacturing recycling carts from recycled content helps to create a closed and circular loop,” says Jonathan North, vice president of sustainability for Rehrig Pacific. “Residents should be proud of CVWMA’s commitment to using locally sourced recycled material that is now back in the region in 95,000 rolling carts, collecting even more recycled material.”  

CVWMA expects to finish cart delivery by June 30, and residents can begin using the carts as soon as they receive them.

“Henrico County is excited to provide 90,000 county homes with these recycling carts—at no cost to the recipients—and is grateful for the partnership of CVWMA on this initiative,” Henrico County Chief of Staff Cari Tretina says. “Recycling is an essential component of Henrico’s broader focus on environmental stewardship, including the use of renewable energy in county facilities and the launch of a reforestation program for our parks and schools. This is another investment in building a sustainable future for our residents and families.”  

Each new cart will come with instructions on what to recycle and how to place the cart for collection, CVWMA says. For the recycling program, CVWMA accepts aluminum and steel cans, mixed paper, old corrugated containers, plastic bottles, plastic containers, plastic tubs, cartons, glass bottles and jars.