NORFOLK — The city’s current recycling contract with TFC Recycling will be up on March 31, and bids are being evaluated to determine who the city will work with next.
In order to streamline the process, the city is asking its residents to take a survey to help determine the best course of action for the city’s future in curbside recycling.
According to a presentation on the current city’s recycling program, the national recycling market is in decline and there is no market for recycling glass.
The current recycling process picks up 11,260 tons annually and of that only 71 percent (7,995) tons are recycled through TFC Recycling.
The rest is made up of 2,094 tons of contaminated waste and 1,171 tons of glass that both have to go straight to disposal.
Currently, Norfolk’s garbage goes to Wheelabrator’s waste to energy facility in Portsmouth.
The waste that goes through that facility creates electricity which is sold to the grid, steam which is sold to the Navy and metals which are collected and recycled, according to the presentation.
The recycling survey will help the city staff develop a strong solution to address curbside recycling.
In addition to the survey, the city is urging its residents to reuse, minimize and prevent waste.
Click here to take the survey.
