CHESAPEAKE — In addition to electing a mayor and three council members in the Nov. 5 election, Chesapeake voters will have a question on the ballot related to curbside recycling services.
In July, Chesapeake City Council voted to include an advisory referendum on the ballot. It will ask voters whether City Council should “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 ballot referendum initiative comes two years after council voted to cut the city’s free curbside recycling services to help fund a public safety plan. Since then, the city established a handful of public drop-off sites staff said have outperformed expectations, saved the city money, expanded access for residents and resulted in a lower contamination rate.
The city also allows for subscription-based services.
In a previous update to council members, city staff reported that more than 3,900 tons of recyclables were collected between July 2023 and May 2024.