ClimateSmart Loan Program

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

Recognizing that the littering of plastic bags is an environmental hazard, as well as a nuisance and financial burden to local farmers, Isle of Wight County began the Isle Be Green Plastic Bag Recycling Program. Isle of Wight has partnered with local schools, commercial property owners, recyclers, retailers and others to establish efficient and clean drop-off recycling collection options and to promote their locations to the public. Initially, the county installed plastic bag recycling containers for shoppers at the county’s three most heavily trafficked convenience centers. The county continued to expand the program to include five additional convenience centers, along with other locations throughout the county. Moreover, the county distributes and promotes the sale of reusable shopping bags through reusable bag giveaways and plastic bag exchange days. With regards to environmental education, the county has partnered with local stores to create a plastic bag collection competition in all five of the county’s elementary schools in addition to conducting a number of outreach events. As a result of the Isle Be Green Plastic Bag Recycling Program, Isle of Wight is recycling a large number of plastic bags. More than 482,569 bags have been collected since Isle of Wight commenced the recycling effort in August 2009. Moreover, the program is allowing the county to reduce its landfill tipping fees and is hopefully reducing the amount of plastic bags littering the environment.