Stephens Co. To Work Towards Re-instating Recycling

Weeks after Stephens County had recyclable collection bins removed from its convenience sites, county commissioners decide to work towards making recycling available once again for county residents.

At its last meeting, the county commission voted unanimously that county convenience sites would no longer separate out recyclable items from household garbage at the county’s convenience sites starting on April 1.

As a result, there is currently not an area for county residents to recycle.

Tuesday, numerous residents voiced concerns about the decision to Stephens County Commissioners at their meeting.

Larry Earhart said he was disappointed in the county commission’s decision.

“I feel like it is taking a giant step backward in making this a nice place to live,” said Earhart. “There are a lot of citizens that go out and try to help keep this a beautiful place … and I think if the county does away with the recyclables, it is a slap in the face.”

According to Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers, convenience site attendants have had to focus on recyclable item issues, which has taken their attention away at times from the garbage compactors and allowed things other than household garbage to get into the compactors, resulting in them being taken away at less than full capacity.

Stephens County Public Works Director Tim Mitchem said that since eliminating recycling, the county has been successful in making sure those compactors are properly filled.

According to Mitchem, the average haul was 4.5 to 5 tons on a 10-ton container before the change.

Since doing away with recyclables, he said that number has gone up to 8 or 9 tons now.

Ayers and Mitchem said that shipping out compactors at less than full capacity has cost the county money and by eliminating recycling and focusing on waste management, it saves the county money.

Former Stephens County Commissioner Jonesy Haygood said, however, that recycling was put into save money.

“Many years ago, the county put in recyclables to save money,” said Haygood. “Now we are doing away with recyclables to save money. You cannot have it both ways.”

Also, Keep Toccoa-Stephens County Beautiful Executive Director Linda Scofield said that the county needs to look at recycling as an opportunity.

“There are other counties in the state making money from it,” said Scofield. “We have not even researched what we can do to make money.”

Stephens County Commission Chair Dennis Bell said that he feels that the county needs to re-visit the matter and find a compromise.

“We teach our kids, what do we teach them, recycle,” said Bell. “We teach them to do things that help the community.”

Bell went on to say he feels the county can afford to have one single drop-off site for recycling.

“I recommend that it be the landfill property,” said Bell.

Other commissioners agreed and the county commission voted 4-0 to authorize county staff to come up with a plan to present to the commission to set up a recycling drop-off site at the county landfill site on Highway 145 as soon as possible.

Commissioner Debbie Whitlock was absent from the meeting.