DeKalb Recycling Program Diverts 21,000 Tons from Landfill

print
Dekalb County

DECATUR, Ga. – In the past 18 months, DeKalb County Sanitation Division’s residential single-stream recycling program has diverted more than 21,000 tons of recyclable materials from the Seminole Road Landfill.

The residential single-stream recycling program collected 13,200 tons in 2018 and 8,100 tons so far in 2019.

“DeKalb’s program provides residents with an easy and economical way to recycle,” said Tracy Hutchinson, Sanitation Division Director. “The annual sanitation assessment fee includes garbage collection, yard trimmings, and recycling. Residents can participate in the recycling program without paying an additional charge.”

In 2018, the DeKalb County Sanitation Division’s recycling program was recognized by the Georgia Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) with an Outstanding Recycling Program award. The county received the award for its efforts to partner with residential and commercial customers to reduce and reuse waste through the recycling program.

Recycled material collected from residential homes is accumulated at the county transfer stations and transported to Pratt Industries Inc. in Conyers for processing.

Nearly 102,000, or 59 percent, of the county’s 173,000 residential households are participating in the recycling program. The Sanitation Division has 40 of its more than 200 trucks assigned to residential recycling.

Residents are encouraged to place acceptable items in their county-issued 35- or 65-gallon recycling roll cart.

Acceptable items for the residential single-stream recycling program include:

  • Cardboard
  • Shrink wrap
  • Plastics (1-7)
  • Aluminum (soda) cans
  • Packing paper (no wax)
  • Mixed paper (newspaper, magazine, printer and copy paper, loose-leaf paper, notebook, etc.)

For more information about DeKalb County Sanitation Division’s recycling program, visit www.dekalbsanitation.com or call 404-294-2900.