Starting in 2014, James City County residents will be able to take their recycling to the curb less often, but will be able to take more – on wheels.
The James City County Board of Supervisors took up consideration of a new recycling system at its meeting Tuesday. The new system carried on a unanimous vote by the present members; Stonehouse Supervisor Jim Kennedy was unable to attend the meeting due to a death in the family.
The Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority, which provides recycling services to James City County residents, has negotiated a new contract with County Waste for curbside recycling collection. County Waste is a West Point-based trash collection company. VPPSA solicited bids for collection services in James City and York Counties and the Cities of Williamsburg and Poquoson, and County Waste’s was the lowest. The company’s proposal for James City County collection was just over $700,000 less than the most expensive proposal for the county.
In total, County Waste’s collection services will cost $503,605 for the first year of the program, about $450,000 less than what has been annually budgeted for curbside recycling services.
Currently, VPPSA distributed 18-gallon bins that need to be carried to the curb. Under the new program, residents will receive rolling carts that hold 35, 65 or 95 gallons. The standard size will be 65 gallons, but the smaller and larger carts will be provided upon request. Additional carts can also be provided upon request. Recycling will be collected every two weeks under the new program.
The recycling program will continue to be free for residents, with the county footing the bill for services.
While the program was approved Tuesday, it will likely go into effect in several months. County staff said time would be needed to advertise the change, collect the recycling bins currently used and to distribute new bins.
Other Board Business
Also, on a 3-0-1 vote with Jamestown Supervisor Jim Icenhour abstaining and Kennedy absent, the board sent a chicken-keeping consideration back to the county’s Planning Commission Policy Committee.
The board asked the committee to meet with residents, look at surrounding localities’ regulations and look at how the new chicken keeping regulations could interact with existing neighborhood covenants, which are legal documents stating what can’t be done in specific neighborhoods. The committee will gather information and work out details before the matter returns to the board for a consideration.
