Fairfax County updates ‘0 Waste’ plan as operations hit 29% diversion; audits show high contamination

Samantha Lee, 0 Waste Team Lead in the Department of Procurement and Material Management (DPMM), told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Environmental Committee on May 20 that Fairfax County operations had achieved a 29% waste diversion rate in 2023 while the county continues to pursue an aspirational goal of diverting 90% of solid waste and reducing overall waste generation 25% from 2018 levels by 2030.

The 0 Waste plan, adopted by the Board in November 2021, established the county and Fairfax County Public Schools’ targets. "The 0 waste plan...establishes two key goals, reduce solid waste generation by 25% from 2018 levels and divert 90% of solid waste from being disposed of in the trash," Lee said. She described structures for implementation including a 0 Waste Core Team, a Champions Network launched in June 2023 and a department action‑plan requirement intended to track progress.

Why it matters: the county’s operational performance provides a baseline for larger community goals and indicates where county departments can make operational changes that also save money. Staff emphasized that progress to date…