ATHENS — The city of Athens has suspended its curbside recycling service because it cannot find a resource to accept its recyclable materials.
In a Facebook post, Sanitation Superintendent Terence Brown said the city of Decatur was providing the service but had to stop because it “cannot obtain the state labor needed and can no longer accept the city’s materials.”
According to the post, Florence considered offering the service but said it, too, could not get the state labor needed to take on materials from Athens.Brown said other entities he contacted cannot provide this service and recycling will be suspended until further notice. Brown said he will continue to seek a solution.
Limestone County provides recycling but cannot take curbside recycling from Athens because the materials are not sorted, according to the city.
Athens residents can take their own recycling to the Limestone County Recycling Center, 1301 N. Jefferson St. (just south of Elm Street).
The center is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday-Thursday. Gates are locked when it is closed. The area is monitored with cameras, and anyone dumping will be prosecuted.
All materials must be sorted and placed in the appropriately marked recycling containers. Bring only materials that are specifically listed as being accepted. No glass is accepted.
Leaving items like swimming pools, children’s toys, any type of glass, trash, furniture, or other items currently not listed as being accepted will cause undue labor and expense, and will be treated as illegal dumping.
Items Accepted
- Aluminum Cans (Call ahead if you have aluminum other than cans).
- Metal Cans (Call ahead if you have metal other than cans).
- Plastic Bottles and Jars No. 1 and No. 2. No other plastics are accepted.
- Mixed Paper.
- Cardboard and Paperboard (cereal boxes, drink cartons, etc.)
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