FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where does my recycling go once it gets picked up?
Typically, the hauler takes your recycling to a nearby Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where the recyclabes are sorted and baled. After that, the materials are sold and transported to another facility where the materials are made into new things! For an in-depth look at a MRF, click here.
How much recycling does Georgia throw away?
Georgia throws away 2.6 million tons of cans, bottles and newspapers each year that could be recycled and sold. For a closer look at the data, see the Georgia Waste Composition Study.
Why aren’t recycling opportunities the same in every community?
1. The recycling industry is market driven. There must be an economically viable and logistically reasonable end-use for the material in order for it to be collected (whether drop-off or curbside) by a local government, private firm, or civic organization. Markets (end-users) typically accept truck-load quantities of a given material to be saleable. A truck-load is a tractor-trailer load ranging in weight from 30,000 to 40,000 pounds. In addition, recyclables must be baled so that these minimum weights can be obtained. Smaller communities may lack the resources necessary to purchase a baler or may not generate the quantities necessary to justify its purchase and/or the space to store the materials for long periods.
2. Accessibility to the market (end user) must be considered. The farther an area is from the end-user, the higher the transportation costs. As recyclable commodities fluctuate in value, this becomes an economic challenge for collectors.