Hanover County landowners who use their property for agricultural, horticultural or forestal uses or keep it in open space are invited to enroll in the Land Use Taxation Program. Under this program, qualified landowners can have their property assessed at “use value”, which may be lower than market value. This would reduce their real property taxes.

The application period for this program begins September 1, 2011 and extends through November 1, 2011, with an additional enrollment period Jan. 1, 2012-Feb. 1, 2012.

The Hanover County Department of Public Works has received a 2011 Virginia Association of Counties’ (VACo) Achievement Award for its organic waste diversion program. The program was the statewide winner in the Environmental category.

Much of what is deposited at Hanover County’s solid waste convenience centers consists of organic materials such as leaves, grass and brush. Instead of placing that material in a landfill, the Department’s employees recycle it in a comprehensive program that includes composting, brush grinding and screening of yard waste.

Hanover County’s yard waste composting program is the only governmental composting operation in central Virginia and has been recognized in the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP). The County composts over 2,250 tons of leaves and grass each year.