LET’S RECYCLE RIGHT, ALACHUA COUNTY!

Use these tips to help raise our recycling
rate and promote proper sorting.

Storm Notice:

The disaster debris collection contractors are currently collecting debris from recent storms which is located on rights-of-way and in publicly accessible residential areas of unincorporated Alachua County. They began collecting debris in the most heavily affected areas on Thursday, October 3. All areas of the County are expected to be reached at least once within the first 30 days of operation. The collection vehicles are operating from 7:00am to 6:30pm Monday-Sunday and will complete multiple passes through all areas. This service is provided to all residents located in the unincorporated portion Alachua County.

Residents in the mandatory collection area can expect to see two separate collection vehicles come through for yard trash. The regular yard trash collection vehicles operated by GFL will continue to operate on their regular schedule but will only be collecting yard trash in reusable containers. Yard trash in paper lawn bags or in piles will be collected by the debris collection contractors. Yard trash in plastic bags will not be collected. To help speed up the collection efforts of the contractors, please consolidate your yard trash into a single large pile.

Please follow the below rules when placing yard trash curbside:

  • Regular yard trash size and weight restrictions are waived
  • Do not place yard trash in plastic bags
  • Place all debris on the curb or roadside, not in the street. Do not block traffic or street access
  • Do not place debris on or near utility boxes, utility lines, cable lines, telephone lines, or other obstructions. Be aware of infrastructure below the ground as well as above.

If you live in a gated community, the County is still waiting for FEMA to approve collection from your areas. While we wait for that authorization, please have your Home Owner’s Association reach out to the County at 352-338-3233 to complete a right-of-entry agreement. This document is required by FEMA and must be completed if your community wants the County’s contractors to collect debris from Hurricane Helene.

RECYCLING ISN’T HARD.
WE MAKE IT EASY.

Something so beneficial shouldn’t be difficult. Confused about what you can recycle? Wondering how recycling helps stimulate our economy? We’ve got you covered with helpful info on why and how to recycle right.

Request a Tour or Presentation

Let’s Talk Trash – Residential Brochure

 

RECYCLING BENEFITS US ALL

Recycling conserves energy and natural resources. It prevents pollution and creates jobs. So when we recycle more, we all benefit. In 2018, Alachua County’s overall recycling percentage was 68%, the third-highest in Florida! That’s really great work, but the higher it is, the better off we are!

ENERGY SAVINGS

Recycling aluminum cans requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce the same amount of aluminum from scratch.

ENVIRONMENTAL SAVINGS

Every ton of paper recycled saves 7,000 gallons of water and prevents 17 trees from having to be cut down.

NEW CLOTHING

Recycled plastic bottles and jars can be made into durable clothing.

ENERGY SAVINGS

Recycling steel requires 75% less energy than manufacturing new steel.

SAVES YOU MONEY

Thanks to our Pay-As-You-Throw program, the less garbage you produce, the less you pay.

PROVIDING JOBS

Recycling allowed Alachua County’s Southwest Landfill to stay open four extra years, saving taxpayers money and providing jobs.

THE FUTURE OF YOUR RECYCLABLES

After you recycle materials, we take them to the mills to be repurposed and reused as other products. Thanks to your recycling efforts, we’re able to reduce our environmental impact. Keep it up!

Mixed Residential Paper And Newsprint

Average Quarterly
Tonnage: 278

Processing Location:
Austell Paper Mill (Austell, GA)
(Austell Paper)

Container board (cereal boxes), cardboard tubes, and other protective packaging​

Cardboard (OCC)

Average Quarterly
Tonnage: 2,027

Processing Location: Pill Hill Mill (Pine Hill, AL), Seminole Mill (Jacksonville, FL)

New cardboard

Soda and water bottles (pet plastic)

Average Quarterly
Tonnage: 146

Processing Location: Clear Path (Fayetteville, NC), Mohawk Ind (Summerville, GA), Marglen Ind (Rome, GA)

RPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate) flake to be used for carpet products, clothing and other recycled polyester products.​

Milk Jugs, ETC. (Natural  HDPE Plastic)

Average Quarterly
Tonnage: 41

Processing Location: Blue Ridge Plastics (Eden, NC), Unifi Inc (Reidsville NC), K&W Plastics (Troy, AL)

Plastic flakes and pellets to be used for making recycled pipe, plastic lumber, paint containers and for plastic injection molding applications (toys, trash cans, lids, etc.…)

Detergent bottles, etc (pigmented hdpe plastic)

Average Quarterly
Tonnage: 45

Processing Location: Blue Ridge Plastics (Eden, NC), Unifi Inc (Reidsville NC), K&W Plastics (Troy, AL)

Plastic flakes and pellets to be used for making recycled pipe, plastic lumber, paint containers and for plastic injection molding applications (toys, trash cans, lids, etc.…)

Mixed plastics

Average Quarterly
Tonnage: 29

Processing Location: Recycling Revolutions (Unadilla, GA)

Plastic is sorted, shredded, washed and the different grades are sold to end users for different plastic products​

Aluminum Cans

Average Quarterly
Tonnage: 59

Processing Location: Constellium (Muscle Shoals, AL), Tri Arrow (Russellville, KY)

New beverage containers

Tin Cans

Average Quarterly
Tonnage: 74

Processing Location: National Materials Processing (Chicago, IL)

New food cans or rebar​

Glass

Average Quarterly
Tonnage: 620

Processing Location: Strategic Materials (Sarasota, FL)

The glass is sorted for color, cleaned, processed, and sold to end‐users for the following products: Glass Containers, Fiberglass, Highway Bead, Glass Abrasives, Paint Filters, and Specialty Glass for decoration​

Reduce, reuse, recycle - find out where to get rid of your waste.

Zero Waste Wizard

RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING

What can and can’t be recycled? What if you don’t live in an area with curbside pickup service? Find the answers to these questions and more so you can make the biggest difference at home.

Learn More

COMMERCIAL RECYCLING

Businesses generate approximately two-thirds of all garbage in Alachua County. That means your company can have a huge positive impact on our community by recycling right.

Commercial

    ASK A QUESTION OR SIGN UP FOR UPDATES!

    Have more recycling questions? Fill out the form below, and we’ll do our best to get back to you within 48 hours. You can also sign up for email updates to stay in the know.

    For garbage cart or recycling bin requests, please call Alachua County’s Office of Waste Collection (352-338-3233).

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