Williamsburg Notebook: City to Collect Batteries, Plastic Bags, Unused Meds

By Amber Lester Kennedy Friday, October 21, 2011

If you have any unwanted medications, used batteries or plastic bags lying around, this is the week to get rid of them. The city’s recycling coordinator will collect used batteries and plastic bags at the Farmers Market this Saturday. Next Saturday, city police will collect unwanted prescription medications for safe disposal. Find more details below.

Williamsburg Police Collect Medications

The Williamsburg Police Department will be manning a disposal site for medications as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take Back Initiative on Oct. 29.

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., officers will be on hand at the Williamsburg Police Department at 425 Armistead Ave. to collect expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications. The drugs collected will then be disposed in an environmentally safe way. The service is free and anonymous.

Drugs of all types are acceptable for disposal. Liquids should be in sealed containers. Sharps or needles cannot and will not be accepted. All drugs collected will be turned over to the DEA for disposal.

Recycling Coordinator to Collect Batteries, Plastic Bags

City Recycling Coordinator Tammy Rojek will collect used batteries and plastic bags for recycling from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Williamsburg Farmers Market.

Residents who bring a minimum of five plastic shopping bags will receive a reusable bag (as long as supplies last).

City to Host Arts District Survey Workshop

The city will launch its survey of the creative community with a workshop at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Williamsburg Community Building.

Data collected from the survey will help the city assess the needs of creative professionals. The survey will be available here from Oct. 26 to Dec. 21.

Planning Commission Talks Comprehensive Plan Wednesday

The Planning Commission will meet for its ninth session to discuss the Comprehensive Plan at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the third floor conference room of the Municipal Building.

Planning Director Reed Nester will present before the group, followed by an open forum, discussion and another open forum. The next Planning Commission work session is scheduled for 4 p.m. Nov. 9, with the topic of William and Mary and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

BZA to Hold Public Hearing Nov. 1

The Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing to consider the request of James and Pamela Penny for a special exception to expand an existing detached garage located in the Resource Protection Area (RPA).

The garage encroaches approximately 16 feet into the 100 RPA buffer. Their home is located at 209 Burns Lane, and is zoned single-family dwelling district. Interested citizens are invited to attend the meeting, which starts at 4 p.m. in Conference Room 3A on the third floor of the Williamsburg Municipal Building.

City Begins Leaf Collection Nov. 7

The city of Williamsburg provides free leaf collection from November to the second week of January. The leaves are vacuumed and ground into mulch for use by the Landscaping Department.

The city is divided into two routes (Red and Blue), with five collections for each route. The red route collection begins Nov. 7, and the blue route begins Nov. 14. Each street will be collected only once a week; leaves must be raked to the street by 7 a.m. on the Monday of collection week.

A complete schedule of the collection dates is available here. For more information, contact Public Works at 220-6140.