York County officials told supervisors on Oct. 7 that curbside recycling will pause after Oct. 31 following the Virginia Peninsula Solid Waste Authority’s (VPSA) decision to terminate a contract with a material-processing contractor, leaving York and three neighboring localities temporarily without curbside recycling.

Mark (county staff) briefed the board on outreach and operational steps. County staff said they mailed notices to subscribing households, activated a hotline receiving about 50 calls per day, posted frequently asked questions and used local media and social media to explain options. The county said roughly 17,000 households subscribe to curbside recycling and that the county collected roughly 350–400 tons of recyclables per month under the prior contract.

Interim service and disposal: County officials said curbside containers will continue to be emptied during October but that, beginning Nov. 1, calls and materials will not be processed as recyclables unless the county secures a contractor; material placed at the curb after Oct. 31 will be collected as trash unless recycling service is restored. Residents who want to continue recycling were advised they can drive materials to county or partner drop-off locations (including Goodwin Neck and James City County convenience centers named during the meeting).

Procurement and coordination: Fuller and county staff said VPSA and York County are evaluating options, including an emergency contract being negotiated with Republic and other short-term offers; one vendor indicated it would provide service only if all four affected localities agree to the terms. York County also has a pending trash procurement that includes an optional recycling line item; staff expected proposals back soon and said a short-term decision could come midweek after the meeting, but a full, long-term solution could extend into January.

Billing and resident impacts: County staff said the November bill (which bills in arrears) covers September and October, and the county will credit customers for recycling service during the disruption so residents will not pay for months when curbside recycling is not provided. Staff also described overflow trash options for subscribers, including no-cost drop-offs at the county waste-management center or an optional extra trash container for a monthly fee (noted in discussion as $13/month).

Board concerns and oversight: Supervisors expressed frustration about perceived poor communication from VPSA, discrepancies in auditing and pricing across member localities, and the speed of VPSA’s termination decision. Several supervisors asked staff to prioritize local control when evaluating offers so York County can ensure service levels and transparency; officials said they will continue coordination with VPSA and neighboring jurisdictions and will report back as discussions progress.

No formal action was taken at the Oct. 7 meeting; county staff said they would continue procurement and emergency-negotiation efforts and update supervisors when a firm short-term or long-term contractor is confirmed.