Recycling program cancelled in Broadway

The town of Broadway has decided to no longer offer curb-side pick up for recyclables.

Kyle O'Brien, Broadway's Town Manager, says Broadway has offered curbside pick up for the past 20 years, so he understands why some people are upset. However, he says Waste Management was going to impose a 63% increase in the fee, and less than half of Broadway residents use the service.

"We think recycling is a very important service, but when we weighed all the options, it just made sense to discontinue it at this time. Now, that's not to say it's gone forever. If the market conditions change, it's certainly something we would look at at that time" said O'Brien. "The issue is a lot bigger than Broadway, it's a lot bigger than Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. I mean, recycling nationwide has shifted considerably over the last couple of years because the market has just changed, there's just not a market for it."

The director of public works for Bridgewater, Bob Holton, says after considering the same issue, Bridgewater has no intention of stopping their recycling program.

"Our citizens like the recycling program, they are pretty environmentally sensitive in this area, and so we are more fulfilling the citizens' wishes rather than maybe watching dollars and cents." said Holton.

Kyle O'Brien says there is a transfer center in Mauzy, just three miles outside of town, where residents can bring their recycling.