SPSA : About SPSA

SPSA's mission is to dispose of waste. SPSA will accomplish this by disposing of waste in an environmentally-sensitive manner, minimizing damage for current and future generations and reusing waste whenever possible, turning it into a useful product.

SPSA's vision is to be the regional choice for full service solid waste management.

SPSA's values are: integrity, teamwork, accountability, productivity, positive attitude and competency.

Our mission will be accomplished through our shared values of: integrity, teamwork, accountability, productivity, positive attitude and competency.

SPSA's shared goals are:

Maintain and enhance customer service focus
Operate efficiently and effectively
Maintain a culture where employees are motivated and productive
Continue to be fiscally responsible
Maintain and enhance trust and confidence in the organization

Our History
Historically, solid waste in southeastern Virginia had been handled by the individual localities in accordance with local and state regulations. Each city or county either collected and disposed of waste within its borders or transported the collected waste to a neighboring city for disposal. Commercial and industrial waste was collected by private haulers but disposal was restricted to the community in which it was generated. Many of the communities faced the growing challenge of how to handle their waste effectively.

The local communities had already realized a need for a regional water supply system, so in 1973, they created the Southeastern Water Authority of Virginia, pursuant to the Virginia Water and Sewer Authorities Act. This organization never reached operational status as a water authority and in 1976, by agreement of the local municipalities, became the Southeastern Public Service Authority. Its responsibilities were expanded to include the implementation of a regional solid waste disposal system to include a resource recovery operation, featuring a Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Plant and a Power Plant.

At SPSA's inception, the organization had no staff, no funds and no facilities or equipment. Staff for the regional planning agency, the Southeastern Virginia Planning District Commission, acted as SPSA staff until 1978 when a full time staff was employed. Initial funding was provided by $3,000,000 of bond anticipation notes secured by four local communities.

During 1978 and 1979, design was initiated on the RDF and Power Plants. From 1979 to 1984, 30-year contracts with all eight communities were executed providing for them to deliver 95 percent of their waste to SPSA and to pay the established fees. Also during this period, the Navy, with SPSA's help, obtained a $160 million congressional appropriation to acquire and operate the Power Plant. Additionally, transfer station sites were selected, design completed and construction started. In 1982, a 300 acre landfill site was acquired in a rural section of the city of Suffolk and construction was completed in 1985. In 1985, the Regional Landfill and the Norfolk, Chesapeake, Franklin and Portsmouth Transfer Stations became operational. The Portsmouth Transfer Station was closed in 1987 when the RDF Plant was completed.

During 1986 and 1987, additional transfer stations were opened in Southampton and Isle of Wight and the Oceana Transfer Station was acquired from the city of Virginia Beach. Construction was completed in 1987 on the RDF and Power Plants and operation of the resource recovery system began in 1988. In mid-1990 SPSA assumed operation and maintenance responsibility for the Power Plant.

During the time facilities were being constructed, operating and administrative staff were employed. Heavy equipment for the landfill and transfer stations and transfer vehicles were acquired. Funding was provided by bond issues of $26 million and $107.8 million in 1984 and $20 million in 1985.

In 1995, SPSA adopted a Vision, Mission and Values statement to give the agency a direction and a plan to continue serving the communities of southeastern Virginia into the future.