Roswell recycling staff explain how materials are processed and how residents can help

On the city podcast Inside Roswell, Mayor Mary Robisho interviewed Justin Paulis, public works crew supervisor at the Roswell Recycling Center, about how the center processes recyclables and what residents should drop off versus put in curbside bins.

Paulis, who oversees volunteers and staff at the center, said the facility acts as a central sorting point for paper, plastics, metals and glass so residents do not need to visit multiple specialized locations. "We are in its simplest terms the middleman for collecting materials, papers, plastics, metals and glass," he said.

Why it matters: contamination at curbside can render an entire load unusable, increasing landfill waste and raising processing costs. Paulis emphasized that certain items — notably plastic bags — should not go in curbside bins because they can jam sorting machines; instead, he urged residents to bring bags to the…