Recycling and Economic Development in Washington, DC

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to administer the recycling programs in the District while ensuring sanitary public space. We also strive to promote source reduction, litter reduction; buy recycled procedures, policies of energy conservation, environmental protection, economic productivity, and cost/effectiveness in the District.

POLICY

The DC Office of Recycling was established in 1989 as a single administrative unit within the executive office of the Director of the Department of Public Works to administer the recycling program in the District. The office employs 10 full time employees. The recycling goal of the District is 45 percent. The District has a mandatory source separation program for all commercial and residential establishments. These include office buildings, churches, retailers, warehouses, apartment buildings, cooperatives, condominiums, bars and restaurants, as well as museums, associations, non-profit organizations, schools, universities and single-family homes. The office encourages recycling through education, technical assistance and enforcement.

Contact Information:

William Easley, Recycling Program Officer
DC Department of Public Works – Office of Recycling
3220 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20022
Telephone:       202-645-7191
Hotline:            202-645-8245
Fax:                 202-645-8518
E-mail:             recycle@dc.gov
Website:          www.recycle.dpw.dc.gov

About the District’s Office of Recycling

The services provided by the DC Office of Recycling are designed to balance today's needs with tomorrow's obligations by fostering both environmental sensitivity and economic sensibility. The Office of Recycling promotes sustainable resource management throughout the District by campaigning for residents and businesses to: Rethink. Reduce. Reuse. …And then Recycle.

rethink how actions affect the amount of waste produced and what can be done to positively change behavior
reduce the amount of solid waste generated and the amount of materials used by trying to reuse as much as possible
...and then recycle as well as buy things made from recycled material.

We work at minimizing waste by affecting attitudinal and behavioral change through:

education and public awareness campaigns
cross-sectoral partnerships
environmental resources and information provision
training and events
research and policy development
enforcement

Public Service Programs

Electronics Recycling – Electronic items are collected at least twice per year. Residents may bring televisions and audio-video equipment, cell phones, home office equipment, computers, computer parts and computer components for end-of-life disposal or recycling. All computer monitors and TV screens must be intact—not cracked, punctured or shattered. A licensed recycler properly recycles all electronics. Some equipment is donated to non-profits to be reused.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection – At least twice a year the Recycling Office hires a professionally licensed hazardous waste hauler to collect and dispose of the materials properly at an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved hazardous waste facility. At the collection site, a professional hazardous waste handler accepts residents’ material. After the materials are collected, they are put in special containers. As the containers are filled, they are transported to facilities where the materials can be recycled or disposed of properly. An emergency unit is on hand at all times to prevent spills and react to any emergency situation. However, because the District only accepts common household hazardous waste materials such as mothballs, pesticides, and paints, the risk of explosions or other emergency situations is virtually non-existent.

Curbside Recycling – Recycling is picked up by a recycling hauler contracted by the District from residents living in single-family homes and apartment buildings with 3 units or less. Recycling is collected on the same day as trash.

Recycling Hotline – District residents can call the Recycling Hotline to report missed recycling collections, request a bin, report a business not recycling or to speak to a staff member.

DC School Environmental Education and Outreach - The DC Office of Recycling provides Environmental Education support to all District schools. Our program includes the use of an award winning, multidisciplinary environmental curriculum, Project Learning Tree (PLT). We assist educators in setting up school recycling programs, provide support with service-learning activities, and conduct environmental education training workshops.

Neighborhood Cleanup Program – The DPW Helping Hand Program provides tools and trash bags to community groups organizing neighborhood clean-up projects. Graffiti paint-out kits are also available. DPW will even send trucks to pick up the bagged trash collected by volunteers.

Internet Resources

            Washington, DC’s Recycling Homepage –
            www.recycle.dpw.dc.gov
            Washington, DC’s Homepage – www.dc.gov
            Washington, DC Department of Public Works Homepage –
            www.dpw.dc.gov

Economic Development in Washington, DC

This office oversees and coordinates execution of the District's economic development programs and projects; represents the Mayor to businesses, developers, and other government agencies; and manages the executive agencies responsible for economic development. The DMPED website describes key initiatives and provides information about doing business in the District of Columbia.

For information please contact:

Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 317
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 727-6365
(202) 727-6703

dcbiz.dc.gov