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DeKalb narrows curbside recycling to plastics #1 and #2, urges residents to reduce contamination
Summary
Director McKinney said international market shifts have reduced curbside acceptance to mostly plastics #1 and #2; contamination increases processing costs and lowers the value of county loads sent to Pratt Industries in Conyers.
DeKalb County officials told residents that market changes mean fewer materials are economically viable for curbside pickup. Director Eugene McKinney said the department now focuses curbside acceptance on higher-value items—primarily plastics #1 and #2—and that other materials (including glass) should be taken to drop-off stations or the central landfill for processing.
McKinney explained the financial impact of contamination: mixed or contaminated loads require more manual sorting after optical separation, which raises processing costs and reduces the value of the county’s recyclable shipments. "They often decrease the value of our loads," he said, noting that Pratt Industries in Conyers processes cardboard and other materials for the county.
Residents should check the county website for a list of accepted materials; staff said glass is accepted at county drop-off locations but is no longer appropriate for curbside collection because it damages equipment and poses safety risks during pickup.
