How can I express my interest in changes to existing service?
- Come to Rivanna Solid Waste Authority Board meetings, located at 168 Spotnap Road. They are at 2:00 p.m. and are generally held the 4th Tuesday of every month (see www.rivanna.org). You can also send an email to info@rivanna.org or write to Executive Director, 695 Moores Creek Ln., Charlottesville, VA 22902.
In addition, you can attend your local Board of Supervisors or City Council meetings:
- Come to County Board of Supervisors meetings. The regularly scheduled meetings of the BOS are held the first two Wednesdays of the month, in Board Room 241, Second Floor, County Office Building. Mail a letter to the Chairperson of the BOS at 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902; Email ecarey@albemarle.org or call (434) 296-5843.
- Come to the Charlottesville City Council meetings. Council meetings are held the first and third Mondays each month at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall on the Downtown Mall at 7th and East Main Street. Email barfieldp@charlottesville.org, mail a letter to the Mayor, Box 911, City Hall, Charlottesville, VA 22902, or call (434) 970-3113.
What do I do with my household hazardous waste until the next scheduled collection date?
We encourage you to hold these items until our next annual special collection day for batteries, paint, paint related products, CFL's, florescent tubes, thermostats, digital cameras, cellphones, ipods, acids, pesticides, adhesives, gasoline, kerosene, household cleaners, floor and furniture polish.
Paints:
1. Please read and follow manufacturer's labels for proper disposal;
2. Any oil based, Alkyd based (lead) paint or paint thinners can ONLY be disposed of at an approved Hazardous Waste facility; or during our annually scheduled HHW day;
3. Latex paint can be dried or mixed with mulch or kitty litter until it looses its liquid state; and then disposed of with your household trash at the Ivy MUC;
Batteries:
Some retail stores such as Batteries Plus stores collect battery types except alkaline. Please refer to your local telephone directory for stores in your areas that may offer this service. We encourage you to contact stores directly for specific programs and instructions.
CFLs:
Many Lowe’s and Home Depot stores collect used CFLs, please refer to your local telephone directory for a store near you.
What do I do with other unwanted household goods?
There are many charities and non-profit organizations in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area that are in need of usable household and office items to support their work. Simply check the yellow pages for an organization close to you. Donating your usable things, instead of throwing them out, helps others in need and reduces waste at the same time.
Another option is to dispose of items at Rivanna Solid Waste Authority's Encore Shop, located at the Ivy Material Utilization Center. Please note that the Encore Shop cannot accept upholstered items, and the minimum fee for disposal is $6.00.
Where can I recycle packaging such as peanuts, styrofoam, and bubble wrap?
Local packaging and mailing stores such as Mail Boxes Etc (977 Seminole Trail); Pack N Mail (536 Pantops Center); and Signed, Sealed & Delivered (1900 Rio Hill Center) will accept clean packing materials for reuse. Please call stores directly for specific details. The "Peanut Hotline," sponsored by the Plastic Loose Fill Council, has more information at 1-800-828-2214.
Where can I recycle magazines and junk mail?
Junk mails is among the recyclable items accepted at McIntire Road Recycling Center. The bins at McIntire are labeled as follows:
| File Stock |
This is white office paper |
| Mixed Brown |
This is cereal boxes, brown paper bags, and any non-corrugated cardboard |
| OCC |
Corrugated cardboard (no wax covering) |
| Newspapers & Magazines |
|
| Aluminum Beverage Cans |
Drink cans only |
| Metal Cans |
Pet food, soup cans, etc. |
| Glass |
Green, brown and clear glass |
| Plastics 1 & 2 |
No plastic motor oil containers, no #3, #4, #5, #6 or #7 plastics |
| Plastics 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 |
#3 through #7 are comingled in one container; still no plastic motor oil containers |
Where can motor oil be recycled?
The Rivanna Solid Waste Authority accepts motor oil and antifreeze at the Material Utilization Center in Ivy.
Why can't all plastics be recycled?
Plastic containers coded with a #1 or #2 inside a recycling symbol on the bottom of plastic containers are recyclable in most communities in the county. These recyclable containers typically include soda bottles; milk, water and juice jugs; cooking oil and liquor bottles; and detergent containers. Other plastics coded with a #3, #4, #5, #6, or #7 are not typically recycled due to limited markets and expense.
Plastic that contained hazardous waste cannot be accepted for recycling but can be accepted during HHW day.
How can I recycle my phone books?
Phone books may be recycled at the McIntire Road Recycling Center throughout the year.
Where can I take propane tanks for proper disposal?
Amerigas, formerly Columbia Propane, accepts propane tanks. See www.amerigas.com/exchange/consumer for details.
The following companies accept certified tanks:
Cycle Systems: 296-6465
Staunton Metal Works (New Life Recycling): 1-800-287-3851
To get a tank properly prepared and certified:
Wel, Inc. Concord, VA 1-800-847-2455
Care Environmental Inc.: 1-800-494-2273
How do I report incidences of litter?
For Albemarle County, call the Litter Hotline Number at 434-972-4145. For the City of Charlottesville, call Charlottesville Public Service Dept. at 434-970-3830.
