News Summary

The Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority has terminated its contract with Tidewater Fibre Corp. due to significant performance deficiencies. Issues included missing records, inaccurate billing, and inadequate customer service. Affected areas, such as Williamsburg and James City County, are transitioning to new recycling solutions, with the City of Williamsburg securing a contract with Republic Services for curbside recycling starting soon. Residents are advised to utilize existing recycling centers during this transition.

Williamsburg, Virginia

The Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority (VPPSA) has officially terminated its nearly 7-year-old contract with Tidewater Fibre Corp. (TFC) effective September 30. This decision comes in response to significant performance deficiencies stated by VPPSA, which cites TFC’s noncompliance with the contract and a lack of willingness to address these ongoing issues.

Among the specific noncompliance issues reported were missing records and inaccurate billing reports, as well as a failure to meet essential customer service performance standards. Additional concerns included the mismanagement of spilled recyclables, with incidents involving oil and vehicle fluids left unattended on roadways.

Tidewater Fibre Corp., headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia, serves as a recycling provider for over 600,000 households and 4,000 commercial customers across Virginia and North Carolina. Affected areas involved in this contract termination include James City County, York County, the City of Williamsburg, and the City of Poquoson.

Response from Local Governments

VPPSA Executive Director Jennifer Wheeler highlighted the significance of responsible waste diversion for environmental sustainability, while expressing concern about the inconvenience this contract termination may cause local residents. In response to the changes, the City of Williamsburg has successfully secured a new contract with Republic Services to initiate curbside recycling service starting on October 1, maintaining a collection schedule of every other week on Monday/Tuesday.

James City County, on the other hand, is currently exploring alternative recycling solutions and has requested residents to retain their recycling carts until further instructions are disseminated. Curbside customers in James City County will continue to have recycling service until September 30.

Recycling Options for Residents

Residents are advised to halt their use of recyclable items and utilize the Recycling Convenience Centers for drop-off recycling, which will remain available at no cost. The York County Recycling Convenience Center will manage this transition while allowing residents access to several James City County convenience locations for drop-off recycling.

For Poquoson residents, there will be a dedicated recycling-only drop-off location set up at its Public Works Compound during weekends on September 26-27 and October 3-4. Public Works in Poquoson will continue to deliver back-door pickup services to enrolled citizens during this period.

Future Considerations

VPPSA is actively working to secure new recycling solutions that ensure compliance and accountability for the impacted communities. If James City County is unable to establish a new curbside provider by the end of September, it has pledged to issue refunds for any payments made for the service period covering October to December.

This termination of the contract and the transition to new recycling options aim to ensure that the communities involved can continue to engage in responsible waste management despite the challenges posed by the previous service provider’s deficiencies.

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HERE Resources

Additional Resources

• WYDaily: VPPSA Terminates Curbside Recycling Contract
• Daily Press: VPPSA Terminates Contract
• Recycling Today: TFC Recycling Accepting Paper Cups
• WAVY: Virginia Beach Recycling Program Survey
• Richmond Magazine: Too Much of a Good Thing
• Wikipedia: Recycling
• Google Search: recycling in Virginia
• Google Scholar: recycling in Virginia
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Recycling
• Google News: recycling news

Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER

WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.