August 12, 2026

Single-Stream Technology Changes. I was impressed with how far recycling technology has come during my tour of Waste Management’s new facility in Elkridge, MD this summer. Not only have they increased the speed and the quality of the process but they have reduced the processing cost. The facility can process 685 tons of recycling material a day using two lines. Glass is pulled out at the front of the process and no longer presents a challenge to the machinery or other recyclables. While glass and plastic bags were the biggest challenge to the machinery in 2019, it is now clearly batteries. Waste Management has had to install fire detection and firefighting stations throughout the lines to catch and deal with battery fires before they become bigger issues. Please do not throw plastic bags or anything that includes batteries in recycle bins.

Change in Market for Glass Recycling. While in Elkridge I went next door to visit Cap Glass’s Transfer Facility. Cap Glass is the company that actually recycles the glass from both the Waste Management facility and Fairfax County’s Purple Cans. Vastly different from 2019, the glass brought here is not going to landfills but is being recycled into everything from Heineken and Yuengling bottles to mason jars, after being sorted by color. The glass not able to be used for these purposes is crushed to make sand for high-quality filters. Because it is processed, this sand has many advantages over actual sand. I spoke to senior executives at Republic, the other major MRF serving Fairfax County residents and they have signed a contract beginning January 1 to have glass received at their facility recycled into products instead of being used as landfill cover as it currently is being used. As a result, almost all the glass that goes into your curbside single-stream recycle bin will be truly recycled into products.

Reasons to Change Glass Back to Single-Stream. There are many reasons for the County to return glass to single-stream and phase out the Purple Can Club.

• Many providers are already offering residents the opportunity to recycle glass single-stream despite the County’s current guidance to not do so – these include Evergreen and other haulers that take their recyclables to Waste Management. You can check on your hauler’s website for guidance.

• Many of our residents do not take glass to the Purple Cans and follow the County’s guidance not to put glass in the single stream curbside recycling bin. Changing this guidance will significantly increase the amount of glass recycled in Fairfax County.

• Curbside single-stream recycling is more convenient for our residents. Those taking glass to the Purple Cans will still recycle single-stream so there should be no net reduction of glass being recycled with the elimination of the Purple Can collection bins.

• Will save the county money given the fiscal challenges in solid waste disposal – see below.

• The other major MRF will begin recycling rather than landfilling glass on 1/1/2027. As a result, almost all of glass that goes into your curbside single-stream recycle bin will be truly recycled into products.

County staff, the Board, and I are proud of what the Purple Can Club has accomplished in the last seven years, but it is time to return glass to single-stream curbside recycling. At our August 25 meeting, I will be asking the Board of Supervisors to direct staff to consider changing our county-wide guidance on recycling glass single-stream and develop a transition plan away from the Purple Can Club for presentation to the Board. This will be a win for the environment and taxpayers’ wallets while being more convenient for residents.

Other Solid Waste Issues. The County has serious challenges in the solid waste arena and currently lacks a comprehensive strategy on how to deal with them. These include:

• Tipping fees that are on their way to double those of our surrounding jurisdictions (tipping fees are paid by haulers to dump trash and are passed through to consumers). They have been offset over the past several years by a reserve account from the sale of the ReWorld facility but that reserve will be gone this year.

• We have commitments to ReWorld in Lorton to provide 650K tons of trash annually through 2031. The County will incur significant financial penalties if at least 617,500 tons are not delivered. This commitment is in direct conflict with the Board approved (9-1) Zero Waste plan.

• Trash brought to the I-66 transfer station as directed by the County has to be reloaded on trucks and shipped to the ReWorld (formerly Covanta) trash to energy facility in Lorton. Anytime you touch trash twice it will be more expensive and we touch over 70 percent of our trash twice. In addition, the operations at the I-66 Transfer Station are inefficient and conditions vary widely – the cost of trucks waiting in line is also passed onto residents.

• The County is in the process of renegotiating the agreement with ReWorld for 2032 and beyond that needs to be reconciled with Zero Waste, tipping fees, and flow control (County control of municipal waste).

On June 3, I hosted a very productive meeting with Supervisor Jimenez, Supervisor Alcorn’s Chief of Staff, county waste management leadership and members of the waste haulers industry to begin to address some of the issues above and get lines of communication open. The glass initiative above was one of the common-sense solutions we discussed. Stay tuned for more.

Solid Waste Request for Expressions of Interest Published. In addition, county solid waste staff have officially published a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to solicit new technologies, ideas and concepts that can help strengthen and modernize Fairfax County’s solid waste system. The RFEI is open through October 30, 2026 and available here: Recycling and Trash News, Videos and Podcasts | Public Works and Environmental Services. To encourage engagement from individuals, small businesses, national organizations, nonprofits, academic partners, and others with innovative perspectives or solutions, the submission requirements have been reduced to a single step: proposals may be emailed directly to Melissa.McDonald@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Free Concerts in the Park

It has been an amazing summer of free concerts in the parks. Please join us for the final two concerts on August 12th and the 19th.



National Night Out



Great turnout for this year’s National Night Out. A special thank you to the men and women of our Police Department who made these events possible, the HOAs and communities that hosted us, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and all other public safety agencies that joined us. 



Virginia Army National Cup Winners



Congratulations to Robinson Secondary School and McLean High School on earning 2025 – 2026 Virginia Army National Guard Cups. Robinson received the 2025 – 2026 Cup for athletics, and McLean earned their cup for academic activities. 

SYA Little League



Congratulations to SYA Little League on an incredible season winning the Virginia State Little League Championship and representing Virginia in the Southeast Region Tournament. 

FCPD Meritorious Awards

Joined the FCPD at the Police Department’s Meritorious Awards ceremony to congratulate all our officers who were recognized for their above and beyond work in serving residents and saving lives. Special congratulations to West Springfield station’s commander Major Lapinski, Second Lieutenant Andrea and Sully station’s APO Soloff on your recognitions.

Chantilly Library Affordable Housing Proposal



Attended Supervisor Smith’s meeting on the proposal to collocate an affordable housing project with the Chantilly Library renovation. I was disappointed with the lack of transparency and will be keeping the community updated on the project.

Other News and Information

• Final Concert of the Summer (August 19)
• American Red Cross National Blood Crisis
• Helpsy Bins Temporary Removal
• Spotted Lanter Fly Awareness
• 2026 Springfield Bridge Walk (August 22)
• Cloverleaf Polo Class (September 19)
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Fairfax Walk (October 3)
• ECHO Fall Yard Sale (October 10)

Final Concert of the Summer (August 19)

Join me on August 19th for the last summer concert of our Free Concert in the Park Series as we bring the sound of horns back to Burke Lake Park with the Soul Shakers playing a mix of classic R&B, Southern Soul and Motown. Joining us will be food trucks Kaziville Hot Dogs, Ned’s New England Deck and Bruster’s Ice Cream as well as a 2 Silos Beer Tent.

American Red Cross National Blood Crisis

The American Red Cross has issued a national blood crisis as blood donations have fallen to a 4-year summer low. All blood types are needed, but the situation is especially dire for type O blood. Please see here for how you can donate blood.

Helpsy Bins Temporary Removal

Due to road and parking lot paving at the West Springfield Governmental Center, the Helpsy and Purple Glass Recycling bins have been temporarily removed and are expected to return at the end of August. Residents will not be able to drop off textiles or glass at this site during construction. Please see here to find other Helpsy and Purple Glass Recycling Bin locations. 

Spotted Lantern Fly Awareness

Spotted Lantern Flies have been out in abundance this Summer and pose a significant threat to our communities’ trees and agriculture. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shared some great practices for keeping your trees and gardens safe from the Spotted Lantern Flies. To learn more about these methods, please see here.

2026 Springfield Bridge Walk (August 22)

Franconia-Springfield will once again be partnering with the local Chamber and Fort Belvoir Garrison leadership to walk across the Veterans Memorial Bridge to American Legion Post 176 for a community celebration. This annual celebration commemorates the covenant of support and cooperation between Fort Belvoir, our veteran community, state and local government and our local business and residential community. There will be entertainment, local community groups, vendors and much more.

Cloverleaf Polo Class (September 19)

Cloverleaf will be hosting their 20th annual Cloverleaf Polo Classic on September 19th from 1:30 to 5 pm where they will have silent auctions, live music, a kid’s corral and an opportunity to meet the horses. To learn more about the Cloverleaf Equine Center, their programs and the Cloverleaf Polo Classic, please see here.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (October 3)

Fairfax County will be hosting their own Fairfax Walk in cooperation with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on October 3^rd, in the Mosaic District. Funds raised at the Out of the Darkness Fairfax Walk directly support research, advocacy efforts, and educational programs in schools, workplaces, and communities across VA. To learn more about the Fairfax Walk, please see below.

ECHO Fall Yard Sale (October 10)

ECHO has chosen an unforgettable date for its Fall Yard Sale this year! Mark your calendar for October 31, in the gym at St. Bernadette’s School, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, for a massive sale of home accessories, fashion items, collectibles, toys, electronics, and more. The sale will end by noon, so you’ll still have time to prepare for holiday festivities. ECHO’s semi-annual yard sales support our mission of helping people in our community.