Full Notification

Discontinuation of Curbside Recycling

As of June 28, 2019, the Town of Abingdon will be discontinuing the curbside, single-stream recycling program contracted through Waste Management, Inc. Waste Management, Inc. will place a notice of service discontinuation on the eighteen (18) gallon recycling bins during the week of June 17-22, 2019, as a reminder to citizens. The last week of service is June 24-28, 2019, so place your recyclables out that week for Waste Management to collect, along with the bins.

The fee on the resident waste collection bill will not change. The Town of Abingdon has been subsidizing the cost for recycling services with Waste Management, Inc. since 2000.

The discontinuation of recycling services is a global issue that has taken several years to reach our region. With China, the largest buyer of recyclable items, no longer purchasing recyclables the demand for these materials is no longer cost effective or sustainable. The decision to end the curbside recycling program within the Town of Abingdon was a mutual decision after consulting with Waste Management, Inc. Because of the lack of a global market for recycling materials, most of them end up in landfills. The Town’s goal is to look at other opportunities to reinstate modified recycling services in the future.

If you are looking for other ways to continue to recycle items, you can check with Wise Recycling in Bristol, Virginia, Revolution Recycling in Bristol, VA, the Carter County, TN Recycling Center, and other facilities in Knoxville, TN.

“It is unfortunate that we must discontinue recycling services at this time,” said Town Manager Jimmy Morani. “However, we encourage residents to practice REDUCE and REUSE to help promote sustainability.”

If you have questions regarding the elimination of curbside recycling program within the town limits of Abingdon, please contact Matt Bolick, Director of Public Works/Construction at 276-628-3167.