The Classic City Rotary of Athens Eco Passport is a year-long initiative to encourage members to engage in eco-friendly activities and promote environmental awareness. Members earn points by completing various sustainable actions, such as recycling, composting, attending environmental talks, and participating in service projects. ECORotary@sosuin.org
Recycle Right: Follow Athens-Clarke County (ACC) Guidelines to Make an Impact
Eco Passport Item # 5 – “Recycle following ACC Guidelines”
By Salome Alvarez, Southern Sustainability Institute, Athens, GA
Email: Blog@sosuin.org
Recycling might seem simple, but doing it right can make all the difference. In Athens, GA, the Athens-Clarke County (ACC) guidelines help ensure that what you recycle actually gets reused—and doesn’t end up as contamination in landfills. By following these local guidelines, you can help reduce waste, save resources, and create a cleaner, more sustainable future for our community.
A Brief History of Recycling
Recycling as a practice has been around in various forms for centuries, but the modern recycling movement really began in the 1970s. With rising concerns about pollution and the environment, the first Earth Day in 1970 sparked widespread awareness and led to the development of curbside recycling programs across the U.S. Athens, GA, has been part of this sustainability push, and the city’s commitment to responsible waste management continues to grow. Today, the ACC’s comprehensive recycling program is an essential part of keeping our city clean and green.
Why Recycling According to Guidelines Is Important
- Prevent Contamination: One of the biggest challenges in recycling is contamination—when non-recyclable materials (or improperly sorted recyclables) get mixed in with other items. This can ruin entire batches of recyclables, leading them to be sent to landfills instead of being processed for reuse. By following ACC guidelines, you help ensure that only the right materials make it to recycling facilities.
- Save Resources: Recycling helps conserve natural resources like wood, water, and minerals. For example, recycling just one ton of paper saves 17 trees! By recycling properly, you ensure these valuable resources are reused rather than wasted.
- Reduce Landfill Waste: Athens-Clarke County has limited landfill space, and once it’s filled, finding new sites is expensive and environmentally damaging. Recycling diverts waste from landfills, helping to extend their lifespan and minimize the need for more landfills in the future.
- Cut Down on Energy Use: Recycling materials like aluminum, plastic, and glass requires far less energy than producing new materials from raw resources. For instance, recycling aluminum saves up to 95% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum from bauxite. When we recycle right, we help reduce our community’s overall energy consumption.
- Fight Climate Change: By reducing the energy needed for production, recycling also helps cut greenhouse gas emissions. When recyclable materials are thrown into landfills, they contribute to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Recycling instead helps mitigate this issue.
Recycling in Athens, GA: ACC Guidelines
ACC Recycling offers single-stream recycling, meaning all recyclables can go into the same bin, but it’s crucial to recycle only the accepted materials. Here are the main guidelines you need to follow:
What Can You Recycle in Athens-Clarke County?
- Paper: Newspaper, magazines, junk mail, cardboard, office paper, and cereal boxes are all acceptable.
- Plastic: Look for plastics numbered 1 and 2. This includes water bottles, milk jugs, and detergent containers.
- Metal: Aluminum cans, steel cans, and empty aerosol cans are welcome in your recycling bin.
- Glass: Bottles and jars (brown, green, and clear) are accepted, but only at designated drop-off locations—not in curbside bins.
- Cartons: Empty milk and juice cartons are also recyclable.
What You CAN’T Recycle
- Plastic bags: These often clog machinery and should be taken to special drop-off locations.
- Food waste: This should go to your compost bin, not your recycling bin.
- Styrofoam: Even though it’s plastic, Styrofoam is not recyclable in Athens.
- Electronics: Items like batteries and lightbulbs need to be disposed of through special programs, not the curbside bin.
For a complete list of what can and can’t be recycled, be sure to check the ACC Recycling Guidelines.
Where to Recycle in Athens, GA
- Curbside Recycling: Athens-Clarke County provides curbside recycling to most residents. Simply place your ACC-approved recycling bin at the curb on your designated pickup day.
- Drop-Off Locations: There are also several recycling drop-off sites throughout Athens for materials like glass, which isn’t accepted curbside. Popular locations include:
- Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM): This site accepts harder-to-recycle items like electronics, paint, and certain plastics.
- ACC Recycling Center: Located on Hancock Industrial Way, this facility accepts many recyclable materials, including glass.
- Specialty Recycling Programs: Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB) and other local organizations often host recycling events for specific materials like electronics, batteries, and more
Tips for Successful Recycling
- Clean and Dry: Make sure all your recyclables are clean and dry before placing them in your bin. Food residue and moisture can contaminate recyclables, making them unusable.
- Sort Responsibly: While single-stream recycling means you can mix most recyclables, be sure to keep out non-recyclable items like plastic bags, food waste, and Styrofoam.
- Stay Updated: Recycling guidelines can change over time. Be sure to periodically check Athens-Clarke County’s recycling website or your local recycling center for updates to ensure you’re recycling properly.
The Future of Recycling in Athens
As Athens continues to grow, so does the importance of recycling right. Following the ACC guidelines isn’t just about keeping our city clean—it’s about preserving resources, reducing pollution, and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. By recycling according to the local guidelines, each of us can make a significant impact. Imagine if every resident followed the rules—it could mean less waste in landfills, cleaner streets, and a healthier planet.
Recycling is a simple action with powerful results. When you follow ACC’s recycling guidelines, you’re helping reduce waste, save energy, and create a cleaner, greener Athens. Whether you’re recycling at home, at work, or on the go, make sure you’re doing it right!
By recycling following Athens-Clarke County guidelines, you’re playing a critical role in creating a sustainable future for our city. Every item you recycle properly contributes to a cleaner environment, a reduced carbon footprint, and a healthier planet for us all. Let’s recycle right and keep Athens thriving for years to come! ♻️🌍
Resources:
https://www.accgov.com/1329/Recycling
https://www.accgov.com/6281/Recycling-Facility
https://www.onlineathens.com/story/news/state/2011/10/26/athens-recycling-goes-single-stream/15629551007/
https://www.accgov.com/209/Recycling-Waste-Reduction
