Changes in recycling, garbage collection mean adjustments for Macon residents

Changes in how garbage, recycling and yard debris are collected in Macon-Bibb County also means adjustments for residents when it comes to how and when the items should be placed by the street.

Staff from Macon-Bibb County and private collection company Advanced Disposal Services demonstrated the changes Friday that will impact residents. On Jan. 4, garbage will be picked up by Advanced Disposal Services across the entire county while the county's Solid Waste Department takes over recycling efforts.

For some households, those differences will mean a new day for garbage collection. Stickers will be put on containers to notify those whose collection day will change.

Also, garbage containers will have to be placed no more than two feet from the curb and with the handles facing away from the road to allow the trucks' mechanical arms to pick them up.

Meanwhile, people interested in recycling can request from the county a 65-gallon container that will be picked up every other week.

"We're trying to divert waste going into the landfills and create a better recycling program," said Kevin Barkley, director of the Macon-Bibb Solid Waste Department.

County trucks are now being equipped with new decals on their sides that detail the recycling initiative.

"Some of the complaints we had were people thinking we were throwing the recycling in with garbage," Barkley said. "This new signage shows the trucks are strictly for recycling."

Among the recyclable materials will continue to be magazines, paper, aluminum, cardboard, plastic bottles and containers, and metal containers. Glass will need to be separated from the recyclables and can be taken to four designated fire stations across the county.

"If the glass breaks, it ruins the whole recycling batch," Macon-Bibb spokesman Chris Floore said.

Another change is how frequently yard waste will be picked up. One of the reasons for the change is that residents should see that type of debris collected more quickly, Barkley said.

The county and Advanced Disposal will pick up as much as four cubic yards per household each week.

"That's been the biggest problem is all the debris sitting out on the curb," Barkley said.

Yard debris should be placed in stacks that are no more than 6 feet wide, 3 feet tall and 3 feet deep. Limbs, brush and other bulk material can be placed in uncovered piles while debris such as grass clippings and leaves should be put into garbage bags.

The changes are part of a contract narrowly approved by the County Commission in November. The cost will jump from $15 to $20 per month for residents whose garbage is now collected by Macon-Bibb employees. The increase for those whose trash currently is picked up by Advanced Disposal will increase from $12.75 to $20 per month.Recycling bins and garbage containers will be distributed as people request them on the Macon-Bibb County website under 'See, Click, Fix' or by calling Macon-Bibb customer service at 751-7400 or the Solid Waste Department at 803-0499.

All glass items should be taken to the following fire stations: Station 1, 195 Coliseum Drive; Station 3, 4065 Forsyth Road; Station 107, 3410 Jones Road; Station 11, 3020 Riverside Drive.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Changes in recycling, garbage collection mean adjustments for Macon residents ."