ABINGDON, Va. - The Washington County Department of Solid Waste will no longer provide a recycling program for residents.
An announcement about the discontinuation of the program came during the regular meeting of the Washington County Board of Supervisors. The regularly scheduled meeting was held on Feb. 12 at Town Hall in Abingdon.
"At present we do not have a place to take our recycling material," said Allen Morris, Director of the Washington County Solid Waste Department. "We have no choice but to stop this recycling program until we can find a place to take this material."
The county previously contracted with Tri-Cities Waste Paper. It was announced last month the Kingsport, Tennessee based company will close on March 15, resulting in 16 employees losing their jobs. Friday was the last day the company would take products.
Abingdon and the county contracted with Tri-Cities Waste Paper to handle materials in recycling bins in the parking lots of the Abingdon Police Department and the Coomes Recreation Center.
With nowhere to take their recyclable material, the recycling of plastic and paper products has become cost prohibitive, according to Alicia Roland, Executive Assistant and Public Information Officers with the Office of the County Administrator.
The county has started the process of phasing out the program. Roland said as the containers fill at the various convenience stations across the county, they will be removed.
Morris expected all containers to be removed by March 1.