About the Recycling Division
Athens-Clarke County became Georgia’s first municipally operated curbside recycling program when it began in 1988. All private carriers are also required to offer recycling to their customers.
Mission
Our mission in the Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division is to educate the public about the importance of waste reduction to the Athens-Clarke County community and implement a comprehensive, waste reduction plan that will reduce landfill disposal of solid waste as follows:
- 40% by 2015 -- Goal Achieved @ 45% Diversion Rate in 2015
- 60% by 2018 -- We need your help! Dropped to 38% Diversion in 2017 Rethink materials, Reduce consumption, Reuse products, Recycle right!
- 75% by 2020
The Mayor and Commission approved the Waste Diversion Goals on November 3, 2010.
History
| 1995 | Material Recovery Facility Opened | Recovered Materials Processing Facility opens, a public-private partnership to sort common recyclable materials (bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, etc.) |
| 1995 | Started Pay-As-You-Throw system | Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) is a usage-pricing model for disposing of municipal solid waste. Athens solid waste service providers (both public and private) must provide three different trash container sizes with appropriate rate differential between each level of service provided. |
| 2007 | Government Property Recycling | Mayor and Commission approved a recycling policy for all Athens-Clarke County properties (Policy SW-021). This policy requires that all events held by Athens-Clarke County or held on county property must provide the opportunity for recycling. |
| 2009 | Solid Waste Task Force formed | Solid Waste Task Force forms, recommends Commercial Recycling Ordinance and Policy |
| 2010 | Waste Reduction Goals | 40% by 2015, 60% by 2018, 75% by 2020 |
| 2011 | Switched from dual stream to single stream | Processing Facility switches to single-stream (mixed) processing. ACC pays $1.2 million for conversion. ACC now owns RMPF. |
| 2012 | Commercial Recycling Ordinance | Every business in Athens-Clarke County must have an approved recycling plan on file with ACC Solid Waste Department, Recycling Division. Commercial Recycling Ordinance and Policy passes, position created and filled |
| 2015 | CHaRM opened | Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) opens |
| 2015 | Introduced automated system | |
| 2017 | Republic Service purchases ReCommunity | Republic Services purchases ReCommunity and takes over operations at RMPF |
| 2018 | Incentivized switching to aluminum vs. glass | Began Glass Reduction Program |
| 2019 | Compost Collection program | Takes over commercial compost collection from Let Us Compost |
| 2019 | SPLOST proposal | Seeking SPLOST funding for new processing facility; exploring replacement Waste Minimization Fee |
| 2019 | Compost Drop-off Program | Began offering compostable material drop-off at the Administration building, CHaRM, landfill, Athens Farmer’s Market and Cooperative Extension |