Partners
There's a lot you can do to involve yourself in making Roanoke a cleaner and greener placer to live. Partner with the city by involving yourself in these programs.
Participate in recycling.
The City of Roanoke provides recycling bins to every household and makes weekly pickups along with your regular trash collection. Recyclables are divided into paper products, and bottles and cans. There’s no special sorting beyond separating items according to these two categories.
The following tips will help the city make the most of its recycling program:
- Rinse bottles and cans, to ensure a high-quality process and discourage attracting pests.
- Discard plastic and metal tops and lids.
- Only clear glass is accepted at this time.
- Plastics should be No. 1 & 2, such as soda bottles, salad dressing bottles, and peanut butter jars. Check the recycling symbol embossed on these and other containers to see if it shows a 1 or a 2.
- Remove paper clips, binder clips, rubber bands, spiral bindings, etc. from paper items. Staples are OK.
- Most labels, postage, etc. on boxes are OK, but try to remove excessive amounts of tape.
On the city’s Web site:
Recycling Collection
Plant/commemorate a tree.
Planting a tree is a good way to beautify the city, but it’s so much more than that. A single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, in addition to providing heat-mitigating shade, and contributing moisture to the atmosphere that supports healthy rain cycles.
The City of Roanoke will plant "public" trees on your street, when appropriate, at no cost to the citizen making the request. Contact the city’s forestry inspector at 540-853-5219 to get started.
You can also donate a tree to the city in honor of a loved one or to commemorate a special occasion. Participants choose from a list of available locations (such as parks, streets and greenways) and approved specimens. A $250 donation covers costs, and includes acknowledgement at the city’s annual Arbor Day ceremony, as well as a memento for the recipient or the donor. For a program brochure, call 540-853-1994, or e-mail Urban Forester Dan Henry at
dan.henry@roanokeva.gov.
On the city’s Web site:
Urban Forestry
Report weed/trash violations.
A house with an overgrown yard or one that is cluttered with refuse is an eyesore in any neighborhood – not to mention a violation of city code. You can help keep Roanoke beautiful by alerting the city about weed and trash violations. Concerned citizens may report violations by calling the Citizen Service Center at 540-853-2000, or by filling out an online service request form. Upon receiving a report, code inspectors will begin the process of investigating and addressing the violation.
On the city’s Web site:
Online request for service
Take advantage of Household Hazardous Waste Day.
Not all garbage is created equal! Toxic chemicals that are improperly disposed of can contaminate water and soil. To help, the city schedules Household Hazardous Waste Day three times a year. These special collections are held at the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority Transfer Station, 1020 Hollins Road N.E. Residents of the city, as well as those in Roanoke County, Botetourt County, and the Town of Vinton, are eligible to participate, at no cost. Items accepted include motor oil, antifreeze, paints, varnishes, thinners, fluorescent bulbs, household cleaners, bleach, polishes, kerosene, etc. (Note: NO tires, commercial waste, explosives, medical waste or radioactive materials, including smoke detectors, are accepted.) Hours are usually noon to 3 p.m. You must pre-register in order to be able to drop off items. Call 540-387-6225 for more information.
Upcoming dates: Nov. 4, 2007; May 4, 2008; Aug. 3, 2008; Nov. 2, 2008
On the city’s Web site:
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Make your home more energy-efficient.
Home improvements are expensive, but some can pay you back in the form of reduced utility bills. The city offers tax incentives for energy-efficient buildings and for use of certified solar energy equipment.
On the city’s Web site:
Tax Relief and Incentives
Pitch in/get involved.
There are a number of organized cleanups and environmental awareness events in the city each year, and you or your organization can play an important part in their success. Here’s a sampling:
Fall Waterways Cleanup and Celebration: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007
Green Living and Energy Expo: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 2 & 3, 2007
Clean Valley Day: Saturday, March 29, 2008
Earth Day (observed): Saturday, April 19, 2008
Arbor Day Celebration: Friday, April 25, 2008
Kiwanis River Cleanup: Saturday, July 5, 2008
Fall Waterways Cleanup: Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Alternative fuels for vehicles.
The availability of biofuels for non-fleet vehicles is developing gradually, based in part on consumer demand, which can vary greatly from one locality to another. If you want to use environmentally friendly fuel in your car, it will depend to some degree on what you drive and where you live. A number of service stations are already offering blended fuels at the pump, which combine gasoline with a limited percentage of ethanol and can be safely used in most vehicles. These stations post information specifying the content of what they sell. Higher concentrations of ethanol such as "E-85" are only appropriate for new "flexible fuel" vehicles designed specifically to run on these compounds. "Biodiesel" is only appropriate for diesel engines, and users are advised to consult their vehicle’s manufacturer as well as their engine warranty statement before using this fuel.
On the city’s Web site:
Vehicle Fueling