Effective May 18, 2020, the Town of Nags Head is suspending its curbside recycling service due to budgetary constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic and continued issues associated with disposal of the recyclables.
Background
In January, Nags Head’s recycling contractor, Bay Disposal of Norfolk, Virginia, notified Town officials that the recyclables they were collecting from residences in the town were being transported to a waste-to-energy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia because the hauler had been unable to find a purchaser for the material.
Since learning of Bay Disposal’s inability to find a purchaser for Nags Head’s recyclables, the Town has been working closely with the recycling industry, as well as representatives of North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality, to find a solution.
“At this time, there is still much uncertainty in continuing to provide this service,” said Nags Head Town Manager Cliff Ogburn. “The recycling industry continues to struggle and many local governments are facing similar challenges. Our Board does not feel comfortable contracting this service under these conditions at this point. We’re looking forward to re-visiting this service in the future, but it has to be both good for the environment and cost-effective for our town.”
All blue recycling carts in Nags Head will now be used for trash.
Properties on the Town’s Green Sanitation Route will have all carts collected on Tuesdays.
Properties on the Red Sanitation Route will have all carts collected on Tuesdays and on Saturdays through the end of September.
Collection will no longer occur on Wednesdays on any routes.
Recycling Centers
Commingled recyclables can be dropped off 24/7/365 at Nags Head’s Town Hall at 5401 South Croatan Highway and at the Town’s Public Works facility at 2200 Lark Avenue.
In addition, a separate container for cardboard is available at the town hall recycling center.
| Currently Accepted Recyclables |
|---|
| aluminum cans | cereal boxes |
| catalogs | forms |
| envelopes | invoices |
| magazines | newspapers |
| office paper | paper bags |
| phone books | plastic jugs |
| steel/tins cans | unwanted mail |
| wrapping paper | writing paper |
| cardboard boxes | cartons* (milk, juice, broth, soup, wine, etc...) |
| *When recycling cartons, please empty, rinse and recap without flattening the carton. |