CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Two years since curbside recycling went away in Chesapeake, the second-largest city in Virginia by population, advocates will have a chance to discuss the matter at Tuesday's city council meeting.
According to Tuesday's council agenda, recycling will be one of three primary discussion points open to the public.
During the meeting, a resolution to consider imposing a fee that would re-establish the curbside recycling program will be discussed, according to the agenda.
Watch previous coverage: Chesapeake recycling contract ended effective immediately
This comes a few months after a petition to bring back curbside recycling received 10,000 signatures.
Since the city canceled the curbside recycling contract two years ago, several different drop-off sites have been set up.
However, there are a few problems with it according to Lacey Shirey with Chesapeake Recycles.
"Since the cancellation of that contract we've had about 22,000 tons of recyclable materials that are going to our landfill," Said Shirey. "We also have to consider that our Wheelabrator which is where all of our trash is going to be incinerated is closing down in just a matter of days, so now all of that trash will be going to our landfill."
Thomas Webber goes to a recycling site regularly, but he's noticed some problems with the drop-off sites too.
"I don't understand why we can't recycle glass they don't have it as part of the recycling here," said Webber. "Plastics here, and I hate all the plastic we use, but there is so much of it."
Karen Lienemann is retired, but knows others might not have time to make it to the site.
"For me, it's easier because I have time to come here, but I can imagine people working it is a little inconvenient for them to come here," said Lienemann. "It was very nice to be able to be able to roll your cart out there and you had a big container, and it was much easier because you know you had a huge container to store all the recycling,"
Some of the residents noted that curbside recycling was expensive and still wonder if anything truly gets recycled.
When we reached out to the city about the possibility of bringing back curbside recycling this was their statement given to us.
"As the recycling landscape, both in Chesapeake and around the nation continues to evolve, the city is extremely pleased that our current drop-off recycling program has outpaced expectations for both the quantity and quality of materials deposited. Additionally, new recycling-based businesses have chosen to locate in Chesapeake, which will provide options for our community moving forward. We continue to work closely with our partners in the region to seek recycling solutions that are both environmentally and fiscally sustainable."
The meeting will take place at the City Hall Council chamber at 306 Cedar Road.
Those interested in speaking on the topic will need to register on the date of the meeting in the council chambers before the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., the city said.
