Compost site unique to Macon could soon divert millions of pounds of trash, waste
Macon is the home of a new compost facility, and hopefully by the end of the year, an adjacent recycling facility, making it the first and only of its kind in the state.
Complete Resource Management’s Macon facility is designed to accept green waste such as tree debris, limbs and plant vegetation, along with food waste and industrial wood waste such as pallets and crates. These materials are composted into nutrient-rich soils and mulches used for gardening, farming and landscaping, according to CRM President Whitcomb Barnhill.
The facility has been operating for about a year as a Class 2 Compost Facility, which has limits on the type and volume of materials it’s able to accept, but the company is working to get a permit to operate a Materials Recovery Facility as well as a Class 4 Composting Facility, which has no limits on the volume of intake.
The company plans to invest about $2.5 million in the facility, which includes land, building development and equipment, and the project is expected to create 25 new jobs locally, according to a news release from the local Industrial Authority.
“The MRF will allow us to bring in packaged food/beverage waste and run it through depackaging equipment in order to separate the organics from the packaging material,” Barnhill said in an email. “We can then recycle the organics in our Class 4 Composting operation and recycle the packaging waste separately.”
Tree service companies and other generators of green waste or landscape debris can bring their material to CRM’s yard for recycling free of charge, Barnhill said.
The company’s current permit with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division lets it operate as a Class 2 Compost Facility, according to Sara Lips, director of communications and community engagement for the EPD, which doesn’t allow CRM to do as much as it would like to. But if the company gets a solid waste permit, it will allow for upgrades to take on more waste. CRM hopes that process is finalized by the end of 2025.
“We are hopeful that by the end of 2025 the permitting process with the state EPD office is completed and we are in phase 2 which means we will be able to take in packaged food and beverage material for recycling,” Barnhill said.
This will be the very first Class 4 Composting Facility in the state, according to Barnhill.
Once the Materials Recovery Facility and Class 4 Compost Facility are operational, they’ll be able to receive tractor-trailer loads of organic waste from commercial and industrial sources such as food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, grocery stores and other large-scale generators.
Some of CRM’s major clients include P&G, Mars M&M, Coors Brewing Company, and Georgia-Pacific, according to a news release from the Macon-Bibb Industrial Authority.
The facilities will also accept materials from residents and small businesses looking to recycle green waste and landscaping debris, Barnhill said.
“This is very exciting for us to be a part of bringing this level of organic recycling to (the state),” Barnhill said. “We are very excited to see the environment benefits this recycling facility will bring to middle GA.”
When fully operational, this facility will divert millions of pounds of organic waste per year away from landfills.
Organic waste often makes up 20 to 40% of landfill volume, according to Barnhill.
In landfills, organic waste breaks down without oxygen, creating methane, a greenhouse gas greater than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Composting significantly reduces these methane emissions which lessens global warming effects.
Composting also transforms organic waste into soil conditioner or nutrient-rich compost, which improves soil structure, fertility and overall health. Healthier soil holds retains waters more effectively and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, resulting in stronger, more resilient landscapes.
Compost-rich soil also helps prevent runoff by retaining moisture, which keeps nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from entering waterways, where they can trigger harmful algal blooms and dead zones. Unlike landfills, composting avoids the creation of leachate, a toxic liquid that can pollute groundwater, leading to cleaner rivers and lakes.
The finished compost, soils and mulches will be available via local wholesalers to residents and commercial landscapers, according to Barnhill.
CRM also has facilities in Valdosta, Albany and Fayetteville.
The Macon site was strategically selected for its central location and direct access to major highways, allowing the company to effectively serve Middle Georgia, South Atlanta, North Florida and Alabama.
The Macon site is located at 300 Allied Industrial Blvd and is open from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For questions about acceptable materials, locals can call the office at 478-957-3820.
