Wednesday, February 12, 2025

New public comment period opens as Select Recycling fights to open in Norfolk

Select Recycling wants to open a "materials recovery facility" in the building on the right on St. Julian Avenue in Norfolk. City officials have complained about the increased traffic from such a business, even though Select Recycling already has approval from the city and state (Courtesy of Google)
Select Recycling wants to open a “materials recovery facility” in the building on the right on St. Julian Avenue in Norfolk. City officials have complained about the increased traffic from such a business, even though Select Recycling already has approval from the city and state (Southside Daily photo/Courtesy of Google)

NORFOLK — A recycling company trying to open a facility near a Norfolk neighborhood has reopened the period for public comment.

Select Recycling Waste Services has been battling the city after it abruptly began opposing the facility in March.

The public comment period was reopened because an employee of Select Recycling accidentally removed the collection of comments from the library too early.

Related story: Leaders oppose ‘trash dump’ in Norfolk neighborhood

“It was my fault; after a public comment hearing in March, I walked out of the (Slover) library with the comment binder,” said Steve Hayes, vice-president of Select Recycling, “but it was supposed to be left there for another six days. We decided to start the public comment over” to ensure the appropriate amount of time was given for residents’ comments.

In March, Norfolk City Councilwoman Angelia Willams Graves stood with Mayor Kenny Alexander, several other council members, and delegates and senators from the Virginia General Assembly, “in direct opposition” to Select Recycling’s attempts to open a facility in the Barraud Park and Bruce Park neighborhoods off Tidewater Drive.
The neighborhoods abut the industrial site where Select Recycling wants to operate. That property is owned by state Sen. Bill DeSteph, Jr., a Republican who represents Virginia’s 8th District, and former Portsmouth City Councilman Danny Meeks is listed as the president of Select Recycling.

All written comments regarding a permit for this proposed solid waste facility should be emailed to Select Recycling by June 6, according to a news release from the city.

If residents email Select Recycling, the company asked for messages to reference the “Application for Permit at 1525 St. Julian Ave., Norfolk.”

In addition, a public meeting is scheduled for May 22 from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Slover Library.

The purpose of the meeting is to acquaint the public with the technical aspects of the facility and how the standards and the requirements of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will be met, to identify issues of concern, to facilitate communication, and to establish a dialogue between the proposed operator and people who may be affected by the facility, according to the news release.

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