Recycling & Safety Coordinator: Emily Johnson

Address:
1802 Central Parkway, SW
Decatur, AL 35601

Department Phone No:
(256) 341-4740 or 341-4770
Department Fax No:
(256) 341-4747

The Recycling Department is open from 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office is located in the Public Works Compound at 1802 Central Parkway.

DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES
The Recycling Department has the responsibility of overseeing all recycling programs in the City of Decatur; drop-off sites; municipal office; household chemical collections; phone book collection; tire program; compost program at the Landfill; and white goods (appliances).

PUBLIC SERVICES/INFORMATION:
Residents with question or problems with collections should call (256) 341-4770.
New residents requesting a recycling bin, or for replacement bins, should call 341-4770.

CONTACT PERSONNEL:
Emily Johnson, Director (256) 341-4770.

Newspapers
Recycle all newspapers and inserts. Place newspapers in your bin so that they are secure and will not blow into your neighbor's yard. Please save your papers for a sunny recycling day. WE CANNOT ACCEPT WET NEWSPAPER. NOT ACCEPTABLE: brown paper bags, or cardboard.

Magazines
Recycle all magazines printed on slick, glossy paper. Please remove all paper or plastic wrappers from your magazines. NOT ACCEPTABLE: Any type of directories or publications printed on newsprint or other dull paper, such as comic books. Do not recycle: Hardback books, or Paperback books.

Books
Do Not Recycle Hardback or Paperback Books

Office Paper & Bulk Mail
Recycle all letters, envelopes, fliers, brochures, bulk mail, computer paper, school paper and construction paper. NOT ACCEPTABLE: Paper bags, wrapping paper, hard bound books.

Paperboard Boxes
Flatten and place in recycling bin all paperboard boxes such as cereal boxes, shoe boxes, cracker boxes, snack boxes, rice boxes and cake mix boxes. NOT ACCEPTABLE: Waxed paper, plastic wrap or packaging inside or outside of box is not taken.  Corrugated cardboard is not collected at curbside.

Cans
Aluminum and steel cans including EMPTY aerosol cans are acceptable. Please rinse. EMPTY aerosol cans that have contained household products such as shaving cream, hair spray or air freshener are acceptable. Please remove lids. NOT ACCEPTABLE: Aerosol cans that are not empty or that have contained pesticides, herbicides or paint. Do not recycle scrap metal, paint cans, automotive product cans, aluminum foil, or disposable aluminum plates or pie tins.

Plastic Bottles
Please recycle all narrow neck plastic bottles that have a #1 or #2 on the bottom, such as milk jugs, soft drink bottles, laundry products, and shampoo. Rinse and remove the lids and pumps. Containers may be crushed to conserve space. NOT ACCEPTABLE: Motor oil containers, pesticide or herbicide containers, plastic wrap, plastic bags, wide-mouth plastic containers such as yogurt and margarine tubs.

Household Dry-Cell Batteries
Place used batteries in a clear plastic bag beside your bin. Please recycle all household dry-cell batteries used in cameras, watches, toys, flashlights, radios, smoke detectors, etc. NOT ACCEPTABLE: Lead-acid batteries, such as those used in automobiles, motorcycles, lawnmowers or boats.

Used Motor Oil
Recycle engine oil from your vehicles and lawnmowers. Put used oil in a clean, CLEAR PLASTIC containers, such as a one-gallon milk jug or three-liter soft-drink bottle, fasten lid securely and place the container beside your bin. We will empty it and return it for your next oil change. NOT ACCEPTABLE: Do not recycle oil in glass containers, plastic antifreeze bottles, motor oil bottles, or ANY OTHER BOTTLE THAT ISN'T CLEAR. Do not recycle any motor oil that has been mixed with any other liquids. Do not recycle antifreeze, transmission fluid, or brake fluid.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT GLASS

Now that everything has been binned correctly, the next thing you need to know is WHEN to recycle it all. So if your home is included in the curbside recycling program, your day and time is EVERY WEDNESDAY, BY 7:00 A.M. If your home is not included in the curbside recycling program, the chart above details a number of locations where you can drop off your recyclables.

Special Recycling Programs
Watch for details about special recycling efforts including:

Household Chemical Collection - Held the second Saturday, every month 9 am - noon at the Public Works complex, 1802 Central Pkwy. We take paint, household cleaners, gasoline, kerosene, oil, filled aerosol cans, pool chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.
Christmas Trees - January
Phone Books - March
Canned Food Collection - November

Composting
Did you know that the grass clippings, leaves, limbs and wood waste that you set out for collection are taken to the Morgan County Landfill composting site where they are recycled into three products: mulch, compost and wood chips? They are available at the landfill year round to residents, for free if you shovel it yourself. Please help keep these products clean by not mixing metals, plastics, bags, rocks or any trash with your yard trimmings. Call the Landfill at (256) 341-4990 for details.