Keeping Front Royal clean and green – here’s what’s new

Issac Rushing, Solid Waste Supervisor, Robbie Boyer, Public Works Director speak with publisher Mike McCool about new recycling procedures.

As a lot of our readers surely know by now, there’s change happening with the recycling process in town. Many residents have complained that their recycling hasn’t been taken, or that they are just leaving some stuff. This is due to the “single stream” procedure implemented on July 1st by the Town Council.

The change is not just aimed to be eco-friendly, but also save the town money in the long run by cooperating with the recycling business, Republic Services of Manassas. While the costs were estimated at $43,050 in the first year, equating to an estimated 85-cent hike to the solid waste collection portion of Town utility bills, those costs could be covered in the new year by the elimination of the need to purchase a new recycling trailer at a price of $48,000 set aside in this year’s budget.

It can also be noted that the new recycling procedures are more in line with contamination protocols. “These new regulations… this is how recycling was supposed to be like.” Over the past few years the recycling procedure used by the town was not up to code, and these new rules will allow recycling be more effective and reliable.

These contamination protocols are the cause for your left behind recycling, as specific and somewhat tedious procedures must be taken for the recycling to be non-contaminated. For example, all tape must be removed from cardboard, and plastic labels must be removed from water bottles and other recyclable materials. These are just a few of the many changes put into effect. Where, you might ask, can I find these new rules? The recycling department led by Isaac Rushing has put in the effort to help educate the residents of Front Royal to eliminate any confusion. Tags have been placed on recycling bins with the list of requirements, and another instruction sheet will be arriving when utility bills are mailed out.

A lot of this change began when Chinese recycling protocols, of which 90% of the nation’s recycling complies with because of China’s large recycling imports changed their allowed contamination to 3%. There was a scare beforehand when China banned plastic imports in 2017, prohibiting 90% of the world’s acceptable recyclable material. This almost forced the Town of Front Royal to abandon recycling as an option, as it would have been too expensive to maintain with little reward. However, earlier this year they had a change of mind, and the new recycling procedure was adopted.

It is yet to be seen what the public’s view of this new protocol is. It looks to save money in the long run for our community, even if it will cost the town more money now. In addition, the town is recycling the right way now, and it will help the town, and the environment, in the long run.

Public Works Director Robbie Boyer and Solid Waste Supervisor Issac Rushing stopped by the Royal Examiner’s studio to discuss with publisher Mike McCool, the new procedures in place for recycling.