Current DEQ regulations have split the State into Solid Waste Planning Districts, with a 20 year old recycling requirement of 25% for the large planning districts. Fairfax County has exceed the requirement in 19 out of the 20 years, currently we are at 46.5%. We have been stuck in the mid 40% for several years. Meaningful new programs to increase our recycling rate haven't been proposed in years. 

The legislature should increase the recycling requirement for large planning districts to 80%, phased in over 7 years. There are municipalities that already achieve this, proving that this is doable. With a new goal to achieve, local municipalities will take the lead on introducing impactful recycling programs. Without a new goal, the recycling rate will continue to stagnate, as inivation is stifled. 

Kitchen food scraps are a large percentage of our trash stream. Arlington County has started collecting residential food scraps in with the yard waste and sending everything to the existing commercial compost facility. This should be done with all large solid waste planning districts. But we should start to incorporate the large food scrap generators such as restaurants and grocery stores. Counties won't do this unless a new goal is implimented. 

There are many examples of things we could be doing to increase our recycling, things other places are doing better than we are. But we don't have the incentive to change. Let's unleash the creative power to have Counties increase their recycling in the ways that they see best.