Decatur Deciding What To Do With Glass

DECATUR, GA -- The city of Decatur is working to figure out what to do now that the end is near for glass recycling as we know it.

The city's current recycling firm, Latham Home Sanitation, is obligated to pick up glass in recycling through June 30.

After that, however, the firm has made it clear that glass will no longer be accepted alongside paper and plastics.

The city has put together an online survey asking residents what they'd like to do next.

The two primary options? Start tossing glass in with other trash that goes to the landfill or pay extra to have glass picked up separately from other recyclables.

Decatur has offered some form of recycling since 1974, with items that are considered recyclable changing again and again.

"With the addition this year of plastic/wax coated cartons and tires, Decatur residents can recycle a wider variety of items than ever before," the city says in an introduction to the online survey. "In addition, materials are collected together to make it as convenient as possible for residents to recycle."

Currently, Decatur's annual solid waste fee is $250.

The survey predicts that the cost of separate glass recycling would add $25-35 to that bill, while adding glass to landfill waste would cost an extra $10-15 -- the price of extra bags as well as increased landfill fees being passed along.

In a question-and-answer section of the survey's webpage, Decatur says there is no land currently available to offer a glass drop-off location within city limits.