March 26, 2020
Dear Recyclers,
The Kent County Recycling Center will close to all inbound loads of recyclables at 5:00 pm on Friday, March 27 to limit exposures to COVID-19 to Kent County staff and workers.
The Recycling Center employs 40 people who handle the recyclables throughout the sorting process. Due to the proximity of workstations on the processing line, maintaining six feet of separation between workers isn’t possible to maintain operations and minimize worker exposure to the COVID-19 virus. As other manufacturing processors shut down their facilities, Kent County’s ability to transport recyclables to processors and end-users has constricted.
Beginning 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27, the Kent County Recycling Center will temporarily close to all inbound loads and to all recycling activities, including the recycling drop-off station. As a result, the residential recycling drop-off station at North Kent Recycling & Waste Center will also temporarily close beginning 5:00 pm on Friday, March 27. All recyclables normally delivered to these facilities must be either held until the Recycling Center reopens or placed in a bag for disposal in the trash.
Kent County’s South Kent Landfill, Waste-to-Energy Facility and North Kent Transfer Station remain open to provide critical solid waste disposal services that sustain and protect public health in our community, as determined by the Department of Homeland Security and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Residents are reminded to bag all trash before placing it at the curb for pickup by a waste hauler to reduce the risk of exposure to waste workers from items like used tissues and other personal hygiene products.
The Kent County Department of Public Works provides municipal solid waste disposal services to ensure the effective removal, storage and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste. Additionally, Public Works operates the Kent County Waste-to-Energy Facility, an electrical generation facility.
We will keep you updated here and on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/reimaginetrash) when we identify a date when we will reopen. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time for us all.
Kent County Department of Public Works
