SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The Chesapeake city leaders have proposed building of a new advanced recycling facility as a long-term solution to their recycling worries. At the same time, they reiterated their commitment to offer more drop-off recycling sites to its residents.

The city had ended its curbside recycling services contract with TFC Recycling last year. Since the termination of the contract, it has opened eight drop-off sites across the city. There has been a demand from some council members to restore the curbside services.

However, Earl Sorey, Public Works Director said that an integrated materials recovery facility that employs latest technologies such as artificial intelligence would ensure more efficient sorting and processing of waste and recyclables using a single bin system. Such a facility, according to him, will deliver high recovery rate of 50%, as compared with the recovery rate of 5-7% offered by traditional curbside services.

The City Manager backed the move, saying that the proposed integrated facility would deliver reduced costs, provide more convenient choice for residents and ensure improved quality of recycling stream. Since it may take a couple of years to build and bring the facility online, the expansion of drop-off sites will be promoted as a temporary solution, he added.