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Residents urge county to restore robust recycling services
Summary
A longtime resident told commissioners Lowndes County's recycling services have been reduced over the years and urged the county to review franchise agreements and restore comprehensive drop-off options for glass, cardboard, batteries and oil.
At the citizens-to-be-heard portion of the meeting, Gretchen Quarterman outlined a history of recycling programs in Lowndes County and urged the commission to restore more comprehensive recycling options.
Quarterman, who said she has tracked the issue since the early 2000s, described past drop-site systems that accepted sorted glass, plastics, cardboard, oil and batteries. She told commissioners current drop-off options accept far less material and that curbside single-stream recycling effectively sends many recyclables to landfill. "I would like to have real recycling in this county," Quarterman said, and asked staff to review franchise agreements to ensure haulers accept recyclables and explore a county-run glass and cardboard drop-off at public works.
She also noted recent price increases for service, reporting monthly charges rose from about $13 to $22, and expressed concern that current drop sites do not accept items like oil or batteries. Quarterman asked commissioners to ensure franchise renewals require more complete recycling service or to provide county-managed drop-off for glass and cardboard.
