Big change: Suffolk ended curbside recycling sorting today
Starting July 1, trash and recyclables go together — bagged — in either the green or blue can. Every can is collected weekly.
Suffolk officially moved away from the TFC curbside recycling program and joined the regional SPSA SORT system on July 1, 2026. For our neighborhood, that means the old “blue can week” routine is retired.
Here is what changes at the curb: you no longer separate recyclables from trash. Bag all of your waste and place it in either can — green, blue, or both. The city collects every can placed at the curb weekly, no matter the color, on our normal Tuesday pickup day. Households may keep up to three total cans in any color combination.
Behind the scenes, everything is hauled to a new AI-powered sorting facility in Portsmouth run by AMP under a $450 million regional agreement with the Southeastern Public Service Authority. Robots, cameras, and air-separation systems pull out recyclables and organics — the goal is to divert at least half of incoming waste from the regional landfill.
Your monthly city fee is not changing. If you prefer to keep separating recyclables the old-school way, Suffolk still offers a voluntary drop-off dumpster at the regional landfill and the recycling convenience center.
One more tip from Jaden: with trash and recyclables now sharing cans, both cans get dirty faster — a great reason to keep them on a regular cleaning schedule.
Sources: City of Suffolk — SPSA SORT · WHRO — Suffolk ending curbside recycling · Suffolk News-Herald