Transfer station manager warns mixing trash with recyclables causes full loads to be rejected

Scottie Hilton, Patrick County's transfer station manager, told the Board of Supervisors the facility has seen significant increases in tonnage during "spring cleaning" months and warned residents that contaminated recycling loads are being rejected.

Hilton gave monthly tonnage figures and breakouts for what the transfer station processed: February totaled 701 tons; March totaled 957 tons; April totaled 886 tons. He said the station separates weighed tonnage and an estimate of unweighed daily household traffic; the unweighed portion rose to the equivalent of roughly 10.2 tons per day in April.

On recycling, Hilton said the county has "been receiving a significant amount of trash mixed in with recyclables." He added: "When this happens, the entire bin is treated as trash and cannot be recycled." He urged residents to avoid commingling materials and to use the labeled bins to keep the program efficient and cost-effective.

County leaders thanked Hilton and urged continued public education; the board asked staff to reinforce sorting guidance so recyclables are not lost to contamination.