Curbside Recycling Service Districts

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Hanover County eliminated its small pilot curbside recycling program five years ago for economic and service equity reasons. However, in the years since the program ended, the public’s desire for a curbside recycling option continued to grow. Residents from several subdivisions approached the County with the goal of developing a means by which a cost-effective program could be provided through the local government. Using an existing model for the establishment of water and sewer service districts, staff developed a program that provided the opportunity to create special tax districts or “Curbside Recycling Service Districts.” If a subdivision contacts the County with interest in starting a program, a notice is sent to all residents in the subdivision announcing a public meeting. County staff and representatives of the subdivision are there to answer questions. After the meeting, the representatives begin a petition drive to achieve an 80 percent sign-up. If the 80 percent sign-up is reached, the petition is presented to the County. The Hanover County Board of Supervisors then votes to establish a tax district for the service and all residents in the subdivision are assessed in the real estate tax bills.