PORTSMOUTH SPSA has been fined $60,000 by state regulators for years of violations involving carbon monoxide emissions from a big trash-burning power plant on the Elizabeth River. About $45,000 of the fine is being dedicated to a local environmental group, the Elizabeth River Project, for development of a nature park on Paradise Creek, to be located near the plant on the Portsmouth waterfront.

Over the past eight months, state and local officials have quietly grappled with a recurring problem: mishandled medical wastes from local hospitals that could put public health and the environment at risk.

CHESAPEAKE SPSA, the regional garbage authority, next year will significantly cut disposal rates charged to six cities and counties in South Hampton Roads, saving those localities about $5 million.

TFC recycling has replaced SPSA’s recycling drop-off bins around the city.
 
The Virginia Beach-based recycling company won a bid to provide drop off locations once SPSA pulled out of the recycling program at the end of last month. The new drop-off bins are located at the same 13 locations, said Ed Farmer, vice president for business development for TFC.  
 

When SPSA decided to drop all of its recycling programs this year, the eight cities and counties served by the regional waste authority were left to ask an uncomfortable question: Now what? Since then, most of the localities have hired private companies to continue recycling as before or, in some cases, to expand environmental efforts.

SUFFOLK On the chilly night of Feb. 12, two inspectors from the state Department of Environmental Quality rode the back roads of Suffolk in search of the mysterious, nasty smell that has drifted over parts of the city for months. It didn't take long.

CHESAPEAKE SPSA, the troubled regional garbage authority, expects to shed 249 jobs later this year, more than half of its work force, according to budget documents released Wednesday.

VIRGINIA BEACH Finding a second representative to serve on the region's trash authority has become something of a political challenge for the city. When the Southeastern Public Service Authority's new board of directors met last month, John Barnes, Virginia Beach's waste management administrator, flew solo. All the other member cities had two representatives.

CHESAPEAKE "You'll find very quickly that nothing is simple here," SPSA's financial director, Liesel De Vary, instructed her new board of directors on Wednesday. She was describing how the Southeastern Public Service Authority has five layers of debts, total ing $228 million (not counting interest), and how the agency is supposed to pay off its loans in the next eight years.

SPSA, the region’s struggling trash authority, has a new board of directors.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced today the names of the people he appointed to the board. By law, no elected officials were allowed. The previous board was made mostly of elected officials.