NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk could be revamping its recycling program.
On Tuesday, city council will discuss what the future of residential recycling looks like in Norfolk.
Every other week, the blue bins come out in neighborhoods across the city.
On its website, TFC , the company that picks up the recycling, says that about 75 percent of households recycle.
But city spokeswoman Lori Crouch says that as of March 31, TFC will no longer work with the city in that capacity.
She said that TFC took an opt out clause in its contract last year.
Since then, Crouch said the city has received bids from two companies.
It’s considering those bids, as well as the possibility of collecting recycling itself.
Cost is of course a big consideration. The recycling business is not what it used to be.
“If you look at last year, China issued some very tough new restrictions on recycling imports,” Crouch pointed out.
Add to that a decline in the newspaper industry, which is both a customer and contributor of recycled material, a slumping demand for recycled glass, and people just not recycling the right way, and the question becomes: how much is it worth?
“So there’s going to be a cost associated with collecting residential recycling, and so we have to take into consideration, and we put out a survey.” Crouch said.
It’s a quick three question survey online, that basically asks how much more would you be willing to pay.
You can fill it out until Friday, but city council will receive a preliminary report when they meet on the matter Tuesday.
