Recycling in Chesapeake

Recycling Options Starting July 1, 2022

The City of Chesapeake has cancelled its curbside recycling contract, effective immediately. A variety of new recycling options, from subscription-based home pickup to recycling drop-off sites, will be available to the community. Learn more about the transition away from curbside collection on our FAQ page. 

Subscription-Based Recycling Collection

As the name implies, this is a service where private citizens will contract with a private recycling provider(s) to collect and transport recycled goods to a commercial recycling center. All collections will take place on private property, and as such, will not utilize the blue bins that citizens are accustomed to. Pricing will be as agreed upon by the subscriber and service provider, much like a cable TV subscription. 

If you choose to subscribe, your first step is to contact the vendor of your choice to learn about their particular system. They will provide instructions and resources to allow for the collection of recyclables in accordance with their program (e.g., Recyclops provides customers with bags to place recyclables in, and Recyclops staff collect the bags from your property on your collection day.) Please note that recycling collection schedules will be determined by your subscription provider of choice, and may not align with your City-scheduled trash collection day. 

Current subscription-based recycling providers include:

Recyclops
www.recyclops.com/chesapeake
801-709-1509

Happy Planet Recycling
www.happyplanetrw.com
happyplanetrw@gmail.com
757-277-3456

If you are a company interested in providing subscription-based recycling services in the City of Chesapeake, please contact Mr. Greg Martin, Waste Management Administrator, at 757-382-3439 or via email at gmartin@cityofchesapeake.net.

Residential Drop-Off Recycling Sites

Residential drop-off recycling sites will open for community use starting July 1, 2022. The drop-off program will start basic and will gradually grow as we determine the best way to accomplish our recycling goals.  Success of the residential drop-off recycling sites depends on everyone in the community using them properly and responsibly. Here’s everything you need to know about this new City service. 

Where will the drop-off sites be located? 

• Russell Memorial Library - 2808 Taylor Road 
• Chesapeake Central Library / Municipal Center - 298 Cedar Road (East Parking Lot Between Albemarle Drive and Library) 
• Indian River Library - 2320 Old Greenbrier Road (Old Greenbrier Road and Providence Road) 
• Department of Human Services - 100 Outlaw Street (Outlaw Street and Bainbridge Blvd) 
• Toll Plaza Road - Cul-de-sac at 168 Toll Plaza Road (Chesapeake Expressway Administration Building) 
• Chesapeake City Park - 900 City Park Drive (back by the skate park)
  
• Deep Creek Park - 437 George Washington Highway South 

What will be accepted at the drop-off sites? 

There will be two separate containers at each drop-off location.  

• Container 1:
  • Plastics #1-7 
  • Metal cans (aluminum, tin, steel)  
  • Mixed paper (newspaper, office paper, magazines, catalogs, mail, NON-shipping box cardboard, i.e., cereal box) 

• Container 2:
  • Corrugated Cardboard (shipping box material only) 
    

What is NOT accepted at the drop-off sites? 

Anything not explicitly listed above is not accepted. For example, items such as glass, yard waste, food waste, construction materials, hazardous waste, tires, household items, and electronics are strictly prohibited at the recycling drop-off sites, just to name a few specifics. 

Can I bag my recyclables in a plastic bag?

No. Please do not put your recyclables in the containers in a plastic bag. Plastic bags get caught up in the sorting machinery, causing damage and production break downs. Plus, the plastic bags themselves are not recyclable. Instead, please transport your recyclables in a paper bag or a cardboard box (which you can then breakdown and recycle while you're there!)

Does shape of plastics still matter? 

No. The plastics accepted at the drop-off sites can be any shape or size but they must have the recycling triangle with a number from 1-7 on them. 

Do I need to wash my recyclables before bringing them to the drop-off site? 

Yes. Please wash/rinse out cans and bottles before recycling.  

Are pizza boxes accepted? 

No. Pizza boxes and other items that are contaminated by food should be kept out of the recycling drop-off sites. Please keep recyclables as clean as possible. 

Why are the accepted recyclables at the drop-off sites different from what used to be allowed when we had curbside? 

Recyclables at the drop-off sites are being collected and disposed of by a different company so different rules apply.   

Why aren't you accepting glass?

There is not currently a market for recycled glass. At the end of the day, recycling is a business. For every item that you put in the bin, there must be a buyer willing to purchase the material and make it into something new. Right now there isn't a market for glass. With our previous recycling contract, glass placed in the blue bin was sent to the landfill, crushed, and used as cover. Our new vendor is only collecting items that can truly be recycled.

Where will the recycled materials be going? 

Each recycling drop-off site will be serviced by GFL and Recycling & Disposal Solutions of Virginia (RDS). GFL will collect the materials and transport them to RDS for disposal and processing. 

Will these items really be recycled? 

Yes, as long as we use these drop-off sites responsibly and do not contaminate them with non-recyclables, the items will be recycled as per our vendor's specifications.

How will the site be set up and secured? 

Each drop-off site will have two containers: one for cardboard only and the other for mixed recyclables. The sites will be gated but will be available 24/7. Security lighting and cameras will be set up. Signs will be posted to help direct users.  

How will you deter dumping of trash? 

The success of this program relies heavily on the cooperation of our community. Each site will have 24/7 video surveillance, though we hope that is rarely needed. Dumping of trash in or around the sites is strictly prohibited in accordance with City Code Sec. 74-30. Violators face fines of up to $2,500 and/or confinement of up to 12 months.  

Recycling For Chesapeake Animal Services

Chesapeake Animal Services collects aluminum cans year round for recycling. Their recycling efforts earn them money that goes directly to the CAS Medical Fund, helping to pay for additional surgeries and treatments for their animals. Donate your aluminum cans any time by bringing them to 2100 Military Hwy and place them in the trailer in the parking lot.

Proper disposal of other items

Many items that cannot be recycled in the traditional way, through subscription services or drop-off sites, can sometimes be recycled in other ways. Chesapeake Recycles Day events are held throughout the year to help you properly dispose of electronics, plastic bags, sensitive documents that need shredding, and household hazardous waste. There are also year-round options for proper disposal of the following:

• Plastic Bags: A local grocery store. Look for the bins at the entrance to the store. These bags are often turned into composite wood material.
• Electronics: Goodwill stores will accept most electronics and will recycle broken items using the Dell Reconnect Program.
  
• Household Hazardous Waste: Hazardous waste materials cannot go to the recycling sites or in the regular trash bin. They must be disposed of properly at one of the SPSA transfer stations or at one of our quarterly Chesapeake Recycles Day events. To learn more about what constitutes hazardous waste and how to dispose of it, visit the SPSA website.