Virginia Beach’s curbside recycling costs will be increasing; city to consider whether to keep service

VIRGINIA BEACH — Recycling from the convenience of home costs residents about $3 a month in Virginia Beach. The fee will likely double next year, if the city renews its curbside recycling program, according to L.J. Hansen, the city’s director of public works.

With the city’s recycling contact up for renewal next year, Virginia Beach will now have to decide whether it’s worth paying the rising costs to keep the program.

Approximately 125,000 homes in Virginia Beach participate in the curbside recycling program. Virginia Beach residents pay $27.50 a monthly for solid waste collection, which recently increased by $2.50 per month for collection of nonrecyclable waste (black cans). The total also includes the recycling (blue cans) charge.

The city’s annual contract with TFC Recycling of Chesapeake for recycling service will expire June 30, 2024. Virginia Beach currently pays about $4.7 million annually for recycling services.

Recycling costs are on the rise, and the industry is experiencing a drop in profits and shrinking revenue. In 2018, China tightened its quality standards for imported recyclables, particularly paper and plastic materials, which disrupted world-wide recycling markets.

As a result, processing fees are increasing. In Hampton Roads, 44% of the collected waste from recycling bins is unacceptable items that must be sorted and disposed of by the contractor, said Hansen, who briefed the City Council June 20.

Acceptable items include paper, cardboard and plastic bottles. A complete list is available on the city’s website.

“We have some people that will take the spaghetti jar, and they’ll peel the label off, and they’ll wash it with soap and water, and they’ll let it dry in the drying rack, and they’ll take it and put it in the recycling bin,” Hansen said. “And then you’ll have somebody else who will come and throw a baby diaper and a four-day old pizza in the box in the recycling bin.”

In addition to curbside recycling, the city provides recycling services at municipal buildings, and during the summer, in the Oceanfront resort area and Sandbridge. Two drop-off recycling centers are also available.

If the city instead chooses to renew with TFC, Hanson estimated residents will pay about $6 each month for curbside service starting in July 2024. The city would also pay more for its other recycling services.

Hansen suggested that the City Council consider options, which include eliminating curbside recycling services and creating community convenience centers where residents could drop off their recyclables.

Some localities use an opt-in model so that people who want to recycle will have the option for a fee.

Chesapeake ended its curbside recycling program in June 2022 and offers eight drop off locations instead. While the total tonnage of items dropped off has been less than what was collected curbside, a greater percentage of items is able to be recycled, according to Chesapeake city officials. Chesapeake residents can also choose to opt into several different subscription-based services.

“This is going to be a lightening rod-type issue,” said Mayor Bobby Dyer, referencing a recent conversation he had with Chesapeake Mayor Rick West.

Councilwoman Barbara Henley suggested the city enlist the help of local environmental groups for public outreach on recycling.

Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson wants the council to hear from residents before making a decision.

“People feel strongly about it,” she said. “Hopefully if people realize that this is going to cost them more money, they’ll become more engaged.”

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com