City of Athens

COVID-19 Notice

The Recycling Center is open during regular hours of operation. The on-site staff are available for questions, but they will no longer assist with unloading recycling. The public restrooms and tours of the earth shelter have been suspended until further notice.

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm

Here is a handy How-To-Guide to help you sort and plan your trip to the Recycling Center.

RECYCLING ITEMS ACCEPTED:

Aluminum Cans, Antifreeze (2 gal per week)*, Automotive Batteries, Cardboard, Catalogs, Cooking Oil, Electronics**, Glass, Glossy Advertisements, Magazines, Mixed Paper,
Motor Oil, Newsprint, Oil Filters, Plastic Types 1 & 2 and Steel & Tin Cans

No Shopping or Garbage Bags Accepted

*Antifreeze must be poured into the 55-gallon drum marked "ANTIFREEZE ONLY".

**We can no longer accept CRT televisions or computer monitors for recycling in the electronics bin at the Recycle Center. However, these items no greater than 26" diagonal are accepted in a seperate storage area at the recycling center, please see attendant for assistance. Please hold items greater than 26" until the Household Hazardous Waste event, held annually in October.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE:

Things to Remember

The Household Hazardous Waste Container is for use by households only. Please NO hazardous waste from Businesses, Churches, Contractors, Dental or Doctors Offices, Hospitals or Schools.

Attendant MUST be present to drop off ANY item.

Ask Attendant for other recycling resources if you have an item that is not included on the Acceptable Item List.

Containers must be free of leaks and approved by the Attendant.

Containers will not be returned.

ACCEPTABLE ITEMS:

Automotive Products

Automotive Cleaners, Battery Acid, Body Putty, Brake Cleaner, Carburetor & Fuel Injector Cleaners, Diesel Fuel, Fuel & Oil Additives, Gasoline, Grease & Rust Solvents, Kerosene and Starter Fluid

Home Maintenance

Acetone, Adhesives, Aerosols, Driveway Sealant, Fluorescent Bulbs, Lamp Oil, Muriatic Acid, Paint Strippers & Thinners, Pool & Spa Chemicals, Preservatives, Propane Compressed Gas, Rat/Mouse Poison, Spray Paint, Stump Remover and Toluene

Household Cleaners

Bleach, Disinfectants, Drain Openers, Oven Cleaners, Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Wood/Metal Polish

Lawn & Garden

Bug Repellent, Fertilizers, Herbicides, Insecticides, Pesticides, Plant Food and Weed & Feed

Medical Sharps & Lancets

Mercury Thermometers
Sharps must be in a sturdy container - Labeled with "(Container Contents) & DO NOT RECYCLE"

Personal Care Products

Lipstick, Lotion, Nail Polish and Nail Polish Removers

UNACCEPTABLE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE:

Ammunition / Explosives

Ammunition, Fireworks, Gun Powder and Military Ordnance

Medical Waste

Dead Animals - contact local Sanitation or Solid Waste Department
Drugs/Medicines - use containers at law enforcement offices and some pharmacies
Infectious Waste of any kind

Miscellaneous

Any Item NOT in approved container
Automotive Gas Tanks
Empty Containers or Aerosols - discard with regular trash
Not Latex/Water based paint - harden the paint and discard in regular trash

Radioactive

Radium Paint and Smoke Detectors