Committee News
Aircraft Noise
Neighborhood Issues/Concerns
Environment and Recreation
UPDATE ON RECYCLING
What happens when you mix plastics in the recycle bin?
Short answer: It ends up in the dump.
Plastics must be clean to recycle (think water bottles or similar shapes).
For specifics see:
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/recycling-and-trash.
Our area depository is the American Recycling Center in Manassas: a sorting center where plastics are sorted and bailed for resale. It’s all about what re-salers are available for the various recycling products.
Here’s a little known fact: the triangle on the bottom of items with a number on it means nothing to recyclers, it is an industry code only. Not all items are recyclable in Fairfax County.
**UPDATE** Glass needs to be separate from regular recycling and brought to the purple bins now available at various locations in the county. The closest bin is at the Mt. Vernon Government Center next to the Fire Station. There is no plan for the county to create purple bins for our homes. If you include glass in with your recycling it will be sent to the dump automatically. Glass products are sent to the glass crusher in Lorton where the end product is currently used in construction projects, just an example.
Regarding yard waste, it was made clear that if yard waste is in plastic bags, it again ends up in the dump. Yard waste must now be in brown yard waste bags available at Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s and other hardware stores.
Neighborhood Watch
Ted Thompson is our MVCA Neighborhood Watch coordinator.
The MVCA Neighborhood Watch Program is a visible, vibrant community service, recognized by the Fairfax County Police as one of the “best and most active” in the County.
In partnership with the Fairfax County Police Department, Mount Vernon District Station, the purpose of the MVCA Neighborhood Watch is, simply put, to use citizen observers to deter crime in our neighborhood by keeping a watchful eye on our neighbor’s homes and reporting to the police any noted suspicious activities or crimes to the police. Our physical patrols, at varying times at least once a day, serve as a visible notice to would-be criminals and others that residents are concerned about crime. We will call the police when we detect unusual or suspicious activity and we take an active part in protecting our homes.
We have recently lost several neighborhood watch participants through attrition and moves out of the area. While we still have a dedicated team where the participants are sanding a one-week “watch,” conducting patrols of the neighborhood approximately once every 14 weeks, we are actively seeking to expand the team with new volunteers to keep the program strong.
We encourage you to become involved as a member of this important volunteer action team.
Please call Ted Thompson to learn more and to join our dedicated team. 703-780-1972 (H), or contact Ted at the dedicated neighborhood watch email at mvcaneighborhoodwatch@gmail.com.
Public Safety
Pedestrians/Bicyclists/Baby Carriages/Bus and Car Occupants, and Drivers
- Obey speed limits - provides more time to "assess and react" (i.e. reaction time and stopping distance)
- Obey STOP, cautionary and warning signs/"NO PASSING" painted double lines and other VDOT signs
- Learn and follow the rules re School Buses particularly when they are loading/unloading
- Wear fluorescent/reflective web belts, gloves ,vests, shirts, jackets when walking , jogging or bicycling
- Earphones cut down your situational awareness
- Consider carrying cell phone, ID, whistle, small flashlight
- Bicyclists need safety devices (lights, reflectors. spoke reflectors on bikes; helmets and bell/horn) and protective, reflective clothing
- Watch for those in crosswalks, on bicycles and on foot
Additional Safety Precautions for your residence
- Keep some external lighting on in darkness and/or use motion sensitive lighting
- Keep car doors locked when parked. Keep outer garage doors and the doors between home and garage locked
- Do not run electrical cords under carpets, rugs
- Do not overload electrical circuits
- USE LED bulbs- be sure to get those marked for indoor/outdoor use if to be used outside; LED's use much less electricity and last longer
- DISPOSE of fireplace and BBQ ashes SAFELY OUTSIDE not in a garage, home or under a deck.
- Avoid use of ladders or standing on chairs and tables.
- Ensure safety of medicines, pills,etc
- Know the location of: fire extinguishers, flashlights, water turn-off in house (usually in basement), electrical panel, etc
CALL 911 IN EMERGENCY FOR FIRE/RESCUE-AMBULANCE/POLICE
POST ADDRESS NEAR PHONE
Your neighbor and Public Safety Chair, John A. Hurley
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