OCTOBER 2024
Chesapeake, Don’t Let Your Vote Go to Waste.
Vote YES to Recycling
As the nation prepares for the November 5 election, our friends at Chesapeake Recycles have launched a campaign to urge Chesapeake residents to vote YES on a critical referendum question to restore curbside recycling.
The referendum asks: “Should City Council adopt an ordinance imposing a mandatory fee of up to $10 per month on all households that receive city trash service in order to reestablish curbside recycling for those households only?”
The answer? YES.
Voting YES doesn’t guarantee a fee up to $10 or any cost—it simply lets City Council know that citizens are serious about bringing back this vital service. In 2022, the City of Chesapeake abruptly discontinued the curbside recycling program two years before the contract expired, with very little notice to the community.
Chesapeake Recycles sponsored a community survey last year, which revealed overwhelming support for restoring curbside recycling. These findings align with
similar surveys from Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Despite several Council Members campaigning on promises to bring back the recycling program, no action has been taken, and alternative solutions, like private services, have failed due to high costs or providers exiting the market.
Lacy Shirey, Co-founder of Chesapeake Recycles stressed, “Voting YES is imperative because it tells the Council how important this service is to you. Recycling is an essential municipal service, and bringing back curbside recycling will reduce waste and protect our environment for future generations.”
Drop-off recycling sites are frequently overflowing, and tracking devices show that materials often end up in landfills. Since the cancellation of the curbside program, Chesapeake is recycling only 2.7% of its waste, far below Virginia’s 25% mandate and the national average of 33%.
The region is struggling to meet its recycling goals, with 93,731 tons of recyclable materials, which are now going to landfills each year.
To help restore curbside recycling, Chesapeake Recycles is asking citizens to vote YES on November 5 and volunteer at the polls. Sign up at ChesapeakeRecycles.com/Volunteer.
Letter from the President
Dear Friends, Clients, and Community Leaders,
As we wrap up the third quarter of 2024, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership and support. At TFC Recycling, we remain deeply committed to keeping our communities clean, green, and sustainable. Curbside recycling is more than just a service—it’s an essential part of preserving our environment, and we’re proud to be leaders in this space.
We’ve recently made significant investments to better serve you, including a $3 million upgrade to our Chesapeake Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). This ensures that we stay on the cutting edge of recycling technology, processing more efficiently and reducing waste headed for landfills. Additionally, we are thrilled to announce a new multi-million-dollar, 10-year contract with the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority to continue providing curbside recycling to over 200,000 households. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to sustainability across the Commonwealth.
As a family-owned, locally operated business, we take great pride in our roots here in Virginia. We’re passionate about educating our community through campaigns like “Start Smart and Recycle Right,” ensuring everyone knows how to make the most of their recycling efforts.
And to my neighbors in Chesapeake, recycling is on the ballot this November. Voting YES is a vote for choice—a choice we didn’t have in 2022 when curbside recycling was discontinued without notice or citizen input. Let’s ensure that our community has access to this critical service moving forward.
Together, we can keep the Commonwealth beautiful for generations to come.
Thank you for your partnership,
MICHAEL “RECYCLE” BENEDETTO President & CEO, TFC Recycling
Client Spotlight
Central Virginia Waste Management Authority
For over two decades, the partnership between the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA) and TFC Recycling has transformed how the Greater Richmond area approaches recycling. This collaboration, which serves nearly 200,000 households across 8 jurisdictions, represents a powerful commitment to sustainability and community education. In 2023, their alliance reached a new milestone with a new $100 million+, 10-year contract, reinforcing their shared dedication to creating a cleaner, greener future for all.
“Recycling is more than just a service; it’s a responsibility we share with the communities we serve,” says Kim Hynes, Executive Director of CVWMA. “Our partnership with TFC has allowed us to not only expand the reach of curbside recycling but also engage citizens in meaningful ways that drive lasting change.”
One of the most innovative aspects of this partnership is how CVWMA and TFC educate the public. The ‘Oops’ sticker campaign, a simple yet effective tool, is at the forefront of this effort. When residents mistakenly place non-recyclable items in their bins, TFC drivers leave an ‘Oops’ sticker, providing a gentle reminder and a teachable moment. “It’s not about pointing fingers; it’s about helping people recycle right,’ explains Hynes. ‘The ‘Oops’ sticker is a creative and effective way we help improve recycling habits across the region.”
TFC’s advanced recycling infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art single-stream Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), has made recycling more convenient and efficient for residents. This facility, equipped
with cutting-edge technology, has processed over one million tons of materials, significantly reducing landfill waste and conserving resources. “Our curbside recycling service doesn’t just reduce the waste stream—it creates jobs and supports the local economy,” says Michael Benedetto, President and CEO of TFC Recycling. “Partnering with CVWMA allows us to bring these benefits to the Greater Richmond community in an impactful and sustainable way.”
Together, CVWMA and TFC are proving that innovative solutions combined with community education can create real change. Through public outreach programs, school initiatives, and continuous engagement with residents, they are making recycling a way of life. “This partnership is about much more than picking up recyclables,” Hynes says. “It’s about inspiring communities to take action and be part of something bigger; helping to build a sustainable future, one recycling bin at a time.”
As this partnership continues to grow, both CVWMA and TFC remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing their shared vision of a cleaner, more sustainable world for future generations.
TFC Recycling Continues Partnership to Provide Curbside Recycling for Virginia Beach
TFC Recycling is proud to announce it has secured a new contract with the City of Virginia Beach, ensuring the continuation of curbside recycling services for over 125,000 households. This partnership began in 1996 and was the first of its kind in the USA, utilizing 95-gallon recycling carts, automated collections, and unique processing equipment. The partnership played a key role in establishing Virginia Beach as a regional and national leader in recycling and sustainability.
Through the new contract, TFC Recycling will divert over 20,000 tons of recyclable materials from landfills each year—equivalent to about 1,000 truckloads. This effort reduces waste, helps protect the environment, and conserves resources. The contract, which has the potential to extend for up to 13 years, reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to sustainable practices. TFC will also invest in new collection vehicles to complement its existing fleet of eco-friendly Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks, and job opportunities will be created for qualified individuals in the community.
“The City conducted a survey, and residents overwhelmingly responded that they use and value the convenience of curbside recycling,” said Michael Benedetto, President of TFC Recycling. “TFC is proud to offer real recycling solutions that truly capture recyclable materials, and we are thrilled to have the largest city in Virginia as our partner.”
Virginia Beach continues to set the standard for recycling in the Hampton Roads region. While neighboring cities like Chesapeake discontinued curbside recycling in 2022, Virginia Beach residents benefit from continued access to this vital service.
Chesapeake’s decision left many residents without convenient recycling options, and curbside recycling will appear as a referendum on the city’s 2024 ballot. With TFC headquartered in Chesapeake and having previously held that contract, the company hopes citizens will vote to restore this service.
For Virginia Beach residents like Brian Meechan, curbside recycling is essential. “Having curbside pickup makes it so easy to stay consistent with recycling,” he said. “If we had to rely on drop-off sites, I doubt many of us would recycle as much. It’s a vital service.”
Recyclables collected from Virginia Beach are processed at TFC’s state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which recently underwent a $3 million upgrade which included a new Master Control Center (MCC panel). Additionally, TFC was awarded a $500,000 grant to install a new advanced optical sorting technology, which enhances the facility’s efficiency and effectiveness in managing diverse materials.
“Real recycling happens in a two-bin system where materials are clean and dry and separate from garbage,” added Benedetto. “We are proud to continue providing sustainable solutions to reduce, reuse, and recycle for the citizens of Virginia Beach and the greater Hampton Roads region.”
With TFC Recycling at the helm, Virginia Beach remains a leader in environmental stewardship, setting an example for other cities to follow.
The new MCC panel allows for remote operations using a hand-held tablet, allows full control of the entire system, and provides real time information. Together with recently installed remote cameras, it provides a full view of the entire MRF and provides a safer work environment.
Read, Retain, Recycle: Recycled Tips for Campaign Season
With election season in full swing, your mailbox is likely filling up with campaign literature, flyers, and postcards. It’s important to stay informed about the candidates and issues, but once you’ve read the materials, what’s next?
That’s where TFC’s mantra comes in: Read, Retain, Recycle! After reviewing your campaign materials, remember that most of them include information on how to access details online, so there’s no need to hold onto the paper for longer than necessary. Once you’ve gotten what you need, it’s time to recycle!
Fortunately, most of the campaign materials you receive can be recycled, helping to keep waste out of our landfills and supporting a greener future.
Here are some tips on how to properly recycle campaign literature:
Paper Flyers and Brochures
These can typically be placed in your curbside recycling bin. Simply remove any non-paper components, like plastic tabs or stickers, and toss the paper into the recycling.
Glossy Postcards
Most glossy postcards and direct mail are recyclable. As long as they aren’t covered in a heavy coating, you can safely recycle them with your paper goods.
Envelopes
Whether they’re regular or windowed envelopes, most can be recycled. The plastic window doesn’t need to be removed, as most recycling facilities are equipped to handle this small amount of plastic.
Magnets and Stickers
Magnets, stickers, and other non-paper items should be thrown in the trash, as they cannot be processed by recycling centers.
By properly disposing of campaign materials, you’re not only keeping your home clutter-free, but you’re also contributing to the recycling process. Remember, every small effort counts towards protecting our environment!
For more tips on recycling smarter, check out TFC’s “Start Smart and Recycle Right” campaign. Let’s keep our communities clean and green, together.
TFCares
At TFC Recycling, we believe that community engagement and education are key to creating a sustainable future. In this section, we’re proud to showcase some of the recent events where we have been actively involved in educating citizens, corporations, and community groups on best recycling practices. Through hands-on demonstrations, informative talks, and interactive activities, TFC is committed to spreading the message of recycling right. From local festivals to corporate workshops, these events highlight our team’s passion for keeping our communities informed and engaged.
Be sure to check out the featured photos of TFC in action as we continue to support a greener, cleaner future for all!
Rock the Park (Summer 2024)
TFC President and CEO, Michael Benedetto, with Grammy-nominated reggae pioneers, The Wailers, on their 2024 World Tour.
Recycling Counts
Virginia Beach Neptune Festival: Touch-a-Truck (September 2024) Virginia Beach residents got the driver’s POV at the ever popular “Touch-a-Truck.”
First Citizen of Chesapeake (September 2024) LeAnne Rains Benedetto emcees the event for the 18th year in a row, honoring Dennis Elmer.
TFC by the Numbers. Between January—June 2024, TFC processed the following recycled materials:
33.8
20.2
4.9
Use this helpful guide to help reduce our strain on the environment and sustain our world for today, tomorrow, and for future generations.
TFC Recycling is a locally, family-owned business that has been operating in Virginia for over 50 years. TFC provides recycling collection programs in 16 municipalities throughout Virginia and North Carolina and is nationally recognized as an industry leader in recycling.
GREATER HAMPTON ROADS AREA 1958 Diamond Hill Road, Chesapeake, VA 23324 • T: 757-543-5766 • F: 757-543-9532
GREATER RICHMOND AREA 122O6 Old Stage Road, Chester, VA 23836 • T: 804-7O6-5877 • F: 804-7O6-1666
GREATER PENINSULA AREA 5602 Chestnut Avenue, Newport News, VA 236O5 • T: 757-247-5766 • F: 757-247-9532
