Oconee County recycling director recommends pausing plastic collection as markets collapse

Swain Steele, Oconee County director of solid waste, told the Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health and Welfare Committee on July 21 that the county saw notable gains in cardboard and scrap-metal revenue in fiscal year 2026 but faces a near-collapse in plastic markets. "Plastic has been very hard to find a a buyer," Steele said, explaining vendors who previously hauled county plastic have stopped accepting loads or begun charging per-load transport fees.

Steele said cardboard tonnage increased by roughly 300 tons year over year and total recycling revenue reached about $472,000, driven mostly by scrap metal, cardboard and aluminum. He said the county sold roughly 42–43 tons of aluminum at about $0.95 per pound. By contrast, the county took in about 60 tons of plastic last fiscal year and now has about 35–40 tons sitting at the facility that it cannot move. Steele described vendor disruptions after regional material-recovery facility (MRF) fires and quoted potential hauling fees of $600–$800 per load or a $50-per-ton surcharge to move material to more distant processors.

Given the lack of buyers and rising costs, Steele said the department's recommendation is to "continue not taking plastic at the centers until markets rebound whenever that may be." He emphasized transparency with residents and urged focus on reduce-and-reuse campaigns and improving separation for high-value materials such as aluminum. The county said it has posted notices on county social pages and placed signs at centers to inform residents about the change.

Steele closed by noting wider national and regional pressure on recycling systems: plant closures have reduced processing capacity and commodity prices for bales have fallen, which in turn shifts material to landfills when buyers cannot be found. The solid waste department said it will continue monitoring markets and report back to the committee.