Recycling Center Installs Gates To Fight Thefts, Illegal Dumping

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- The Sandy Springs Recycling Center has made a big change in an effort to crack down on thefts and illegal dumping at its facility on Morgan Falls Road. The center will no longer be open around the clock for customers to make various drop-offs, as gates have been installed to cut off access to the building while the facility is closed.

For more than 30 years, the parking lot at the recycling center has been open, with recycling bins available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, this practice is no longer "sustainable," said Executive Director Kathy Reed. The addition of the gates is viewed as a way to curtail overnight thefts, illegal dumping of non-recyclable items and people taking advantage of the service by not paying for unwanted items that require a fee for acceptance.

"We did an extensive study on the impact of installing gates,” Reed said. “We wanted to make sure we were accommodating our customers who want to recycle after hours, while following industry best practices of having lockable gates when the center is not staffed.”

The Board of Directors of Keep North Fulton Beautiful, the nonprofit that operates the Sandy Springs Recycling Center, engaged a panel of industry experts to offer recommended changes that would improve operations and efficiency at the center. One of the first proposal from the panel was to install gates to enhance security.

KNFB then surveyed customers in-person, via through email and online and chose the best times to offer extended hours based on more than 600 responses received in the informal polls. The announcement about the gates was first made in June to give customers plenty of time to adjust to the new schedule.

“I’m anticipating some confusion at first, as people adjust to the new hours,” Reed added. “But I hope that everyone understands that we put a lot of thought and planning into this decision and in the long run, this adjustment will enable us to sharpen our focus on customer service for the dedicated recyclers who enjoy our center.”

The recycling center's new hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. The facility will be closed Sundays and on major holidays. The gates will be closed and locked when the facility is not open.

To learn more about Keep North Fulton Beautiful’s programs and the Sandy Springs Recycling Center, visit www.knfb.org.

Image via Sandy Springs Recycling Center