Waste Disposal and Removal

Proper waste disposal keeps our garbage out of the environment and prevents it from becoming marine debris.

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Regional Waste Diversion Trash Interceptor Technology

There are seven main methods of marine debris removal- netting, skimming, barriers, trapping, GPS, bottom retrieval with machines, and bubble barriers. We encourage you to read more about these methods if interested. This webpage focuses on how to properly dispose of irregular types of debris, like electronics or hazardous waste, depending on your county's rules and programs. Below, you will find information mostly on skimming and trapping technologies. Please let us know if you know of other debris removal methods happening in Virginia.

Have another resource for us to share? Contact Us and let us know!

Regional Waste Diversion

Waste management changes by city and county. The following Planning District Commissions share their waste management and resiliency tools in their jurisdictions. Find yours below! Some actions listed below relate more to stormwater management, which can tie in to marine debris work by capturing trash from rain runoff, flooding, or by trash interception devices.

If you don't see your locality represented below, your Planning District Commission may not have waste management information on their website. Check out Earth911's resources instead to find local waste disposal options.

AskHRGreen Recycling and Reusing

Here’s where you’ll find everything you need to know about recycling and reducing the amount of waste you contribute to the landfill in Hampton Roads

Go to AskHRGreen

Central Virginia Waste Management Authority

Fostering regional collaboration to provide planning, resources and education in order to reduce, reuse, recycle and manage solid waste for our 13 jurisdictions.

Go to Central Virginia Waste Management Authority

Clean Valley Council

Recycling and Reuse information for City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Vinton, and Salem

Go to Clean Valley Council

Crater Planning District Commission

Environment and Resilience Site

Go to Crater Planning District Commission

New River Valley Regional Commission

Natural resource planning in the region includes participants representing local governments, regional non-government organizations, state agencies, as well as several dedicated citizen representatives

Go to New River Valley Regional Commission

Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission

Hazard mitigation, Regional Tire Operations Program, and Solid Waste and Recycling Management

Go to Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission

Northern Virginia Regional Commission

The Northern Virginia Waste Management Board, composed of solid waste managers and public works directors, promotes regional approaches and solutions to recycling and waste management issues in Northern Virginia

Go to Northern Virginia Regional Commission

Plan RVA

Don't Trash Central Virginia- Water Quality, Plant RVA Natives, Rivers Planning, Litter Prevention, Resilience, Flood Risk, Solar, Air Quality, Extreme Heat

Go to Plan RVA

Rappahannock Rapidan Regional Commission

The Land Use & Environment Committee is an opportunity for land use administrators, planners, and environmental managers to discuss and exchange information on topical issues related to local, state, and federal regulations and programs

Go to Rappahannock Rapidan Regional Commission

Roanoake Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission

RVARC plays a pivotal role in stormwater management across the region, working in tandem with local governments, state agencies, and federal bodies to address and mitigate stormwater issues

Go to Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission

Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission

A leader in regional solid waste planning efforts, the PDC has provided assistance to its members on a wide range of solid waste issues including solid waste management plans, recycling efforts, and maintaining state mandated recycling rate reports

Go to Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission

Earth911

The largest recycling database in the nation working everyday to help you make small, simple changes that will reduce the environmental impact of your life, work, and shopping

Go to Earth911.com

Trash Interceptor Technology

Leading technologies in capturing waste from rivers, streams, and other flowing water bodies

Aquarius Systems

Aquatic Trash Skimmers clean up floating debris from harbors, rivers, and other waterways plagued with this unsightly navigational hazard, rescuing waterways and making them safe for the public

Learn About Aquarius Systems

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Trash-Free Waters Trash Capture Technologies

Learn About U.S. EPA Trash-Free Waters

RanMarine

Autonomous surface vessels for complete water care, including waste collection, algae control and restoration, and data and monitoring

Learn About RanMarine

Storm Water Systems

With engineered, patented, and field-proven solutions, we address the critical challenge of marine debris, 80% of which originates from rivers and streams.

Learn About Storm Water Systems

Mr. Trash Wheel

Mr. Trash Wheel is a social media celebrity, Baltimore landmark, and part of the semiautonomous trash interceptor family in the Baltimore Harbor and surrounding waters.

Learn About the Trash Wheel Family