Audit: Atlanta recycles about 23%; Rubicon data errors and multifamily enforcement gaps hamper diversion

City auditors reported on July 15 that Atlanta’s curbside recycling program diverted about 23% of collected residential tonnage—below the Environmental Protection Agency’s national benchmark of 26%—and identified data and enforcement problems that limit accurate measurement and program effectiveness.

Mikaela James of the audit team told the City Utilities Committee that the Department of Public Works collected roughly 19,800 tons of recyclables in fiscal 2023 but estimated about 20% contamination and noted uneven participation across service areas: one service area reached about 25% while others ranged from 16% to 21%. The audit found that Rubicon route‑tracking entries were sometimes lower than vendor tonnage tickets; a weeklong comparison in December 2024 showed Rubicon consistently underreporting compared with vendor weights. Auditors also found a $3,500 overbilling by the recycling processor for four months in 2024; the processor credited the city on the next bill.

The audit flagged enforcement gaps for the city’s multifamily recycling ordinance (City Code section 13038), which requires owners of multifamily dwellings with six or more units to provide recycling containers and report tonnage. Auditors found the reporting portal linked to an unmonitored mailbox and no routine reconciliation of multifamily reports, meaning roughly half the city’s residences may lack accessible recycling services. The audit also noted Atlanta is the only nearby jurisdiction with single‑stream curbside service that includes glass; glass represented about 9% of recycled tonnage in 2024 and requires additional processing, which raises costs while providing environmental benefits.

Recommendations included: creating targeted education campaigns for low‑participation service areas; written policies and QA/QC for Rubicon ticket uploads and tonnage reconciliation; an enforcement plan for multifamily reporting with assigned portal monitoring and inspections; a feasibility study on continuing single‑stream glass collection; and a measurable waste‑diversion goal in the updated solid‑waste plan. Department leaders said much of the work is already underway and committed to implementing recommendations by the end of the calendar year.

Public Works Deputy Commissioner Kentura Garmon and DC Nica Greenlee said the department has increased communications and education staff over the last 12 months, is updating standard operating procedures and is working to improve Rubicon performance. The committee accepted and filed the recycling audit (vote recorded as 4‑0).

Ending: Auditors and Public Works agreed to implement a mix of data fixes, outreach and enforcement changes; councilmembers asked for a follow‑up on outreach strategy and on the multifamily enforcement plan.