Rockdale staff propose prepaid tag system and end to cash at recycling center to reduce backups

County staff outlined proposed changes to operations at the Rockdale County recycling transfer station, telling commissioners that longstanding practices of tallying items and collecting cash create traffic backups, safety concerns and opportunities for theft.

“The only thing we're changing is the way we collect fees,” the director said, describing a plan to move to a prepaid, hanging‑tag system similar to neighboring counties. Staff proposed a flat annual tag (staff cited $150 as the base price) with a senior discount and a plan to stop accepting cash onsite, moving to credit, debit or check and offering an online purchase portal.

Staff said the transfer station is a transfer facility rather than a landfill and noted most operating costs come from hauling bulk debris and tree material. They emphasized the center currently requires attendants to count materials (mattresses, lumber, tree debris and other items) and collect payment at a booth, which—on busier days—can back traffic up onto Sigmund Road. That process has also required extra deputies for traffic control and, according to staff, resulted in periodic break‑ins where cash stored onsite was targeted.

The board asked clarifying questions, including whether the site would continue to accept commercial waste (staff said it would not) and how the county's approach compared with neighboring Newton and DeKalb counties. Staff said the tag system would be prorated and would include options to buy in person or online; details and final pricing would be returned to the board for approval.

No final fee ordinance or schedule was adopted at the meeting; staff presented the proposal for further consideration and to allow the county to develop the online payment portal and signage.