The City of Auburn has officially announced changes to the city's recycling procedures. Waste Recycling Inc., Auburn's current recycling company, will no longer accept plastics for recycling.
According to Director of Public Affairs for the City of Auburn David Dorton, the City of Auburn will move to Pratt Recycling. Dorton said the move will benefit the residents in many ways as the new company will open the door for single stream recycling, which in turn will minimize the need for residents to sort their recycling into different types.
Auburn was the first city in Alabama to offer curbside recycling in 1987, and has since then been proud, passionate and committed to recycling. The city believes that the change to single stream recycling will only benefit Auburn, Dorton said.
"It's what people want," Dorton said. "Cities that go to single stream recycling typically see more participation."
The move to single stream recycling was in response to the expressive feedback of the Auburn community, he said.
Initially set to start in early 2018, the City of Auburn plans to launch its new recycling program on December 1, 2017. The first phase will bring in 5,600 recycling carts for Auburn customers, while those who are not part of the first phase will have to recycle their plastics at the recycling center on Donahue Drive, according to Dorton.
Until the switch, Auburn residents will have nowhere to recycle their plastics, Dorton said. Many Auburn residents were hoping to export their plastic recycling to another company or community. However, the City of Auburn has told residents that it would be unreasonable for another community to process the volumes of recycled material from a city as big as Auburn.
"It's just not a good recycling option." Dorton said.
While the switch in companies leaves Auburn residents in a jam until December, Dorton said the City of Auburn is confident that the switch to Pratt Recycling will only benefit the city and add to Auburn's already noteworthy recycling reputation.
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