Recycling Facts & FAQs

Recycling Facts & FAQ's

Does the majority of what we recycle end up in landfills?

The Recycling Partnership is a national nonprofit actively working to provide grants to localities to help them improve their recycling programs. By their count, on average nationwide, 16.9% of what gets put in the curbside recycling bin doesn’t belong there at all and therefore ends up in the trash. Read more.

When Chesapeake provided curbside recycling, it was  estimated that 25% of what was put in the recycling bins ended up in the trash.

At the same time, the EPA estimates that 75% of what is put in the trash is recyclable.

With public education, we could reduce the percentage of contamination and increase the recycling rate.

What are the benefits to curbside recycling?

Ease & Convenience:  Residents are more likely to recycle when a curbside program is available.

Less Trash In The Landfill:  Recycling helps conserve landfill space. Studies show that more than half of the trash entering the landfills could be recycled.

More Resources:  Recyclables are used as raw materials for new products that help stimulate the economy.

Community Pride: Chesapeake is a green city, and our citizens take pride in making a positive difference in the community.

To learn more, visit the EPA website.

Is the investment worth it?

When the curbside recycling program was operational, the city was paying roughly $4.3 million to recycle 14,000 tons ($308 / ton).

Today, the city pays roughly $2.5 million to recycle 3,000 tons ($833 / ton) , and the other 11,000 tons are sent to the landfill which also bears a cost of approximately $2.2 million — about the same cost the city claims to be saving.

In addition, the City of Chesapeake’s 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report shows an “excess” of $160 million in revenues over expenses.

The city can afford to support an efficient recycling program as well as citizen education.

Recycling simply has not been a priority for our leaders.

Is Chesapeake the only city in 757 that doesn't charge a fee for recycling?

Yes, currently Chesapeake is the only city in the region that doesn’t charge for a fee.

However, we did have a $3 / month fee in years 2009 thru 2011 to cover the cost of the blue bins.

Both Virginia Beach and Norfolk currently charge $3-5 per household / month which will likely increase in 2024.

In our community survey, 69% of survey participants said they would be willing to pay a fee of $5 to $20 / month.

Private service costs between $29 and $100 / month.

Does Virginia require cities/counties to recycle?

Yes, the state mandates that 25% of all waste be recycled.

In addition, most cities / counties have a sustainability policy which includes recycling.

The Chesapeake Waste Management department collects over  100,000 tons of waste annually. 

According to the city, the drop-off recycling program yeilds roughly 3,000 tons of recycable material or roughly 3% of our overall waste.

The average recycling rate in for the state is 43.1% (2022).

The average recycling rate for the region is 35.6% (2021).

What are the current options for recycling in Chesapeake?

Citizens can contract one of the private services below or use one of the seven drop-off locations.

Private Services

Recyclops
$29 / Month + $7 / Month for Glass

Happy Planet
$100 / Month, Includes Glass

City Drop-Off Sites
Items accepted: Plastics Number 1 and 2, Metal Cans (aluminum, tin, steel), Mixed Paper (newspaper, office paper, magazines, books, catalogs, mail) and Corrugated Cardboard (shipping box material only, must be separated from other recyclable materials).

Western Branch
Russell Memorial Library
2808 Taylor Road 

Great Bridge
Chesapeake Municipal Center 
212 Holt Drive
(West Parking Lot Between Albemarle Drive and Great Bridge Community Center. Enter from Shea Drive.) 

Indian River
Indian River Library 
2320 Old Greenbrier Road
(Old Greenbrier Road and Providence Road) 

South Norfolk
Department of Human Services
100 Outlaw Street
(Outlaw Street and Bainbridge Boulevard) 

Hickory
Toll Plaza Road Cul-de-sac
168 Toll Plaza Road
(Chesapeake Expressway Administration Building) 

Greenbrier
Chesapeake City Park
Howell Lane
(Off City Park Drive between the dog park and the skate park)

Deep Creek
Deep Creek Park
437 George Washington Highway South 

Why isn't glass recycled in Chesapeake?

Glass is 100% recyclable. Some local processors do not have the ability to recycle glass, so the City decided to not include it in the drop-off program. Other local communities still recycle glass, however there is a cost to recycle it because virgin glass can be produced so inexpensively.

Which City Council Members support curbside recycling?

Of the nine Members, six were on Council at the time of the vote (5 to 4 against continuing curbside recycling).

Four Members were in support of saving the curbside recycling program:
Mayor Rick West
Vice Mayor John deTriquet
Debbie Ritter
Dr. Ella Ward

Two Members voted in opposition:
Robert Ike
Don Carey

The other three Members in opposition are no longer on City Council:
Steve Best
Susan Vitale
Dwight Parker (Who had previously supported curbside recycling, but ultimately flipped on the final vote.)

In the last election, five Council Members made campaign promises to restore the curbside recycling program if elected and listed curbside recycling as a priority in their campaign collateral:

Vice Mayor John de Triquet
Dr. Ella Ward
Amanda Newins
Daniel Whitaker
Jeff Bunn

On November 5, 2024, the following Council Members will be up for re-election:

Mayor Rick West (Supported the curbside program previously, but seems to be a proponent of the one-bin collection concept.)
Debbie Ritter (Supported the curbside program previously. We’re not sure of her current position.)
Robert Ike (Voted against the curbside recycling program.)
Don Carey (Voted against the curbside recycling program.)