Starting July 1st, Decatur Residents Need To Separate Glass For Recycling
Decatur Metro | June 23, 2016 | 9:17 am
The City of Decatur send around this notice early this week to inform residents that starting next Friday, July 1st, we will need to separate our glass recycling from all other trash and recycling to get it recycled.
The message on the back is similar to the one posted on the city’s recycling page…
Separated glass collection services begin July 1, 2016.
New rules set by recycling facilities dictate that glass must be collected separately from other recyclables. Decatur residents will need two bins – one bin for glass only, and one for paper, plastics and metal. Residents will be responsible for providing the second bin, and there are no stipulations regarding type or color, though it should be 18 gallons or smaller. Your recycling will be picked up the same day as your garbage. See the City of Decatur single family residential waste collection schedule here.
The note on the reverse of the card also points out that the annual sanitation fee for the new fiscal year has increased from $250 to $275 to cover the cost for separated glass recycling.
The city has wrestled with what to do about glass recycling since early this year, as industry demand for recycled glass has declined and recyclers are now often refusing to accept it. The city asked residents what they wanted to do and via an online city survey and 90% of respondents were willing to pay $25 to $35 more a year to recycle glass.
So that’s what’s happening.
Finally, will the glass actually be recycled? According to the city’s glass recycling FAQ – YES.
Yes. The glass collected from the separated residential curbside program will be sent to a recovery facility called Strategic Materials. They are a processor for recycled glass used in a wide array of products such as containers, fiberglass insulation, and countertops
Wish I hadn’t re-homed all of my open bins when I upgraded to a wheeled cart. Anyone got a source?
Bins are nice, but you can use almost anything for the glass long as it’s clear (no pun intended) that it is the glass recycling container. Note that the same recycling contractor will come in a separate truck for the glass and the pickup may be earlier or later than the main truck.
Lump–I’ve got an extra old open bin that I’d be happy to give you. Maybe DM could give you my email address (is that possible?).
That would be great.
DM sent you my email address — let me know when you’d like to pick up the bin. Someone is home pretty much all the time.
so my blue bin is for paper, my blue plastic bag is for metal, aluminum and plastic and then my old trash can is for glass. got it.
You don’t need to separate paper from plastic and metal unless that works for how you accumulate things.
I think that you may have DeKalb County recycling, not city of Decatur. If so, this doesn’t apply to you.
oooooh! I’m dekalb unincorporated so I don’t need to worry about this business?
As I understand it, Cara, you don’t have to worry because DeKalb doesn’t do glass at all.
What we have more glass than will fit into an 18 gallon bin? I don’t see that on the FAQ. Also, I don’t see a place to ask these question on the website.
Residents may choose to designate more than one bin for glass if they have a large quantity. Just make sure they are less that 18 gallons each, and that the glass is separated from your other recyclables.
If you have other questions you may contact Decatur Public Works at 404-377-5571 (M-F, 8am-4pm).
For clarification, Lena, how much is 18 gallons? Compared, say, to the blue recycling bins.
Maybe you drink more beer than me, Jeff, but for the past 3 weeks I have deliberately been putting all glass into a separate container, namely one of the old red “Glass Only” bins, and it may be one-fourth full. There just aren’t that many things that come in glass anymore.
Beer, wine and liquor. The great glass trifecta.
Also spaghetti sauce, applesauce, jelly and jam.
We ordered from the City–no charge and they are delivering.