Recycling

The Keep Pickens Beautiful Recycling Guide

Always Recycle:

• Mixed Paper (newspaper, unwanted mail, white and colored paper, telephone books, magazines, soft back books, manila folders, pasteboard from cereal and dry food boxes, paper grocery bags, etc.)
• Plastics (grade 1 -7 containers - drink, milk, detergent, etc. – remove tops) 
• Glass (containers – clear, brown, green) 
• Scrap Tires 
• Cardboard (no cardboard with wax coating)
• Aluminum Cans - empty contents
• Metals (tin cans - rinse out food, scrap metal, large appliances, etc.)

Do Not Recycle:

• Paper contaminated by food (pizza boxes, paper plates, napkins, etc.)
• Plastic liners from food packaging
• Wax milk cartons, wax paper, juice boxes, frozen food boxes, and other paper coated with wax
• Light bulbs, mirrors, broken glass, and Styrofoam 

Georgia Recycling Facts 

• There are more than 400 recycling businesses in Georgia, employing over 13,000 Georgians.
• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for 3 hours.
• It takes five 2-liter plastic bottles (Soft Drink & Water) to make 1 square foot of carpet.
• Recycling a glass bottle can save enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours.
• Georgia is one of the top recycling states in the nation.
• Georgia firms process over 12 million scrap tires annually.
• Since 1991, more than 2.5 million Christmas trees have been recycled in Georgia.

Recycling Saves

• Scarce Landfill Space
• Expenses of Waste Disposal
• Nation's Scarce Natural Resources
• Energy Sources Such as Electricity, Petroleum, and Coal
• Trees  

How does Recycling Work?

When we take items that can be recycled to the Recycling Center, we help our community reduce the amount of garbage going to the landfill. Today only about 11% of trash in Pickens County is recovered annyally for recycling. The goal is to increase this to 25%.

Where do recyclables go after collection? Manufacturers use them to make new products - recycling's second step. The third step is when you buy items made from recycled material.

Do your part by recycling and then buying items made from recycled material.

Recycled Products 

• Paper - New Writing and Office Papers, Building Insulation, Packing Materials 
• Plastic - Plant Pots, Plastic Lumber, Can Liners, Lawn Furniture
• Glass - New Glass Packaging, Decorative Tiles, Paving Material
• Aluminum - New Beverage Cans, Siding for Houses
• Metal - Appliances, Auto Parts, Construction Beams

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

Pickens County Recycling Centers are located on Camp Road (turn left off 515 South at Lawson Chevrolet and the Center is on your right) and Cove Road (on the right just before Steve Tate Highway). Call 706-253-8871 for Camp Road and 770-893-2644 for Cove Road Recycling Centers to obtain hours of operations. Scrap tires may be recycled at the Cove Road Recycle Center and at the Jones Mountain Waste Management Center – call 705-253-8860 for informational and directions to the Jones Mountain locations.

Recycle reusable clothing, household items, and furniture at the Community Thrift Store, 110 Samaritan Drive, Jasper, GA. Hours of operation 10:00am to 4:00pm Tuesday through Saturday. Call 706-253-7770 for additional information and directions.

[Click here to download our latest recycling brochure]

For assistance in solving your recycling issues, call Keep Pickens Beautiful at 706-253-3600. Speakers are available to provide informational recycling guidance to organizations and groups.