Background
In 2022, the City of Chesapeake discontinued the curbside recycling program two years
before the contract expired and with very little notice to the community.
Chesapeake Recycles sponsored a community survey.
The survey results showed overwhelming support in restoring the curbside recycling program.
Our survey results are consistent with the survey results from the Virginia Beach survey and the Norfolk survey.
Our survey results were shared with the City Council Members and City Staff.
Several Council Members made campaign promises to save the recycling program in order to get elected.
Yet, NO ACTION has been taken, and alternative solutions have not proved successful.
Private service providers have pulled out of the market
or raised rates (up to $100 / month).
93,731 tons of recycable materials are going to the landfill each year.
Politicians used the referendum process to kick the recycling issue
down the road (again) until past the 2025 General Election.
To add insult to injury, they added a fee of $120 / year to the referendum language.
The referendum failed.
Exit polling showed overwhelming support for the curbside recycling program,
but citizens felt they should not have to endure an additional “tax”
during one of the worst economies in recent history.
Meanwhile, politicians are floating the idea of a single bin waste collection
system that will come with a hefty price tag.
The system is proven to only recycle 9%,
and it is expected to take nearly FIVE years to implement.
Virginia mandates that we recycle 25% of our waste.
The national average is 33%
Chesapeake is only recycling 2.7%.
Since Chesapeake cancelled the curbside program,
the region is struggling to meet the 25% mandate.
We are NOT doing our part!
And, we’re a BIG part of the problem.
Chesapeake is the only city our size in Virginia that does not
provide curbside recycling as a core service.
Please join us in the effort to restore the curbside recycling program!
