The City of Norfolk has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability by choosing TFC Recycling to provide curbside recycling services, continuing a partnership that has delivered this essential city service to over 61,000 households for more than 20 years. This commitment positions Norfolk as a regional leader in sustainability and waste reduction, alongside Virginia Beach, which earlier this year also continued its relationship with TFC to serve 125,000 households, diverting more than 20,000 tons of recyclables, or about 1,000 truckloads per year, from local landfills.
Norfolk and Virginia Beach鈥檚 decision to maintain curbside recycling is significant when other cities, such as neighboring Chesapeake, discontinued the essential service as a municipal offering in 2022 due to alleged budget constraints. This contrasts with the overwhelming community support in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, where recent surveys indicated that residents believe recycling is essential for environmental stewardship and support the curbside service as the most efficient and effective way to reuse waste and divert materials from landfills.
“TFC Recycling is proud to support the shared environmental vision of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, helping both cities lead the region in sustainable waste management,” said Michael Benedetto, President and CEO of TFC Recycling. “By investing in curbside recycling, these communities are committing to environmental responsibility. Our team is dedicated to ensuring these programs succeed and grow.”
Recyclables collected from residents will be processed at TFC’s state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where they recently invested $3 million for a new Master Control system. Additionally, TFC was recently awarded a $500,000 grant to make additional upgrades at its Chesapeake-based Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), enhancing its capacity and processing efficiency. New additions include AI-powered optical sorters that achieve recovery rates over 97%, advanced drum feeders for consistent material flow, and cutting-edge screens for optimal paper separation. TFC鈥檚 facility also employs dual high-capacity export balers, ensuring continuous operation and reducing downtime.
鈥淭he recent upgrades to our MRF highlight our commitment to providing the highest level of recycling technology and efficiency to our partner cities,鈥� Benedetto added. 鈥淲ith these enhancements, TFC is well-positioned to support all of Hampton Roads and the greater Richmond area toward a more sustainable future.鈥�