Suffolk, Va., recycling program successful in first year

August 17, 2012
By Shawn Wright

Suffolk, Va., residents have taken to their recycling program.

In the first 11 months of service, more than 10.1 million pounds of recyclables were collected by TFC Recycling with an average participation rate of 63%, the Suffolk News-Herald reported.

"The rates continue to increase as residents adapt to the service," the city's Public Works Director Eric Nielsen told the newspaper.

Nielsen said he hopes to get the recycling rate closer to 72% for the program that began in September.

To cover the cost of the program and establish a separate fund to cover waste management costs, a new $210 annual fee was included with residents' property tax bills.

In addition, the city said it is saving money by recycling. In the last year, it would have cost $6.1 million to send the recyclables to the landfill and pay the tipping fees, the newspaper said.

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