The Chesterfield County Department of General Services has announced changes to its curbside recycling program and convenience center operations. The changes are designed to reduce costs while maintaining the high level of service county residents expect.

Effective July 1, an annual fee of $25 will be applied to each household to support the county’s biweekly curbside recycling program. This program enables residents to recycle paper, cardboard, glass and plastic in a single container, while reducing the amount of household waste going into local landfills. The fee will be included on homeowners’ real estate tax bills, with $12.50 charged each December and June (equals 96 cents per pickup). Homes currently not on curbside recycling routes will be added to the schedule on or about July 1. New participants will receive recycling bins and calendars showing collection days.

County residents may opt out of participating in the curbside recycling program and not pay the annual fee. There are two ways to opt out:

— Call the General Services Department’s Customer Service Center at 804-748-1297.

— Complete an online opt-out form available at www.chesterfield.gov/recycling.
Also effective July 1, Chesterfield County’s two convenience centers for household refuse disposal and recycling will operate under new schedules and a new $7 gate fee. The new schedules are as follows:

— Southern Area Convenience Center, 6700 Landfill Drive, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)

— Northern Area Convenience Center, 3200 Warbro Road, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (closed on Wednesday and Thursday)

For more information, contact the Department of General Services’ Customer Service Center, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at 748-1297.