The City of Centerville has been awarded a grant to relocate and expand their recycling center. The award of $324,315 is from the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and is funded through the Recycling and Waste Diversion Grant of the Solid Waste Trust Fund.

The center, currently located off Carl Vinson Parkway at 101 Industrial Way, has been in operation since 2002. Over the years, as the area’s population has grown and other communities have ended or reduced their recycling options, the center has seen continual increases in the amount of waste accepted each year. Currently, many of the large compactors are full after just a few days, and the City relies on Ryland Environmental for hauling off full bins and returning empty ones. Unfortunately, the current location does not have room for any type of expansion or additional equipment. The City has been looking for ways to update and expand services for the last few years, and this grant will allow the City to meet this goal without having to use City tax dollars to do it. Mayor John Harley reflected on this sentiment saying, “I am so pleased the Governing Body has been able to enhance our promises by not using city tax funds. We constantly seek ways to keep our taxes as low as possible while continually improving your standard of living.”

The grant funds will be used to relocate the center just half a mile away to property owned by the City on Elberta Road near the Public Works Department. All current equipment will be moved to the new location, and additional machinery will also be purchased to allow for more items to be collected at a time. Some of the updates will include upgrading mechanical parts of existing equipment, a new aluminum can crusher, an additional compactor for plastic recyclables, additional shelters to cover equipment, and the purchase of a roll off truck and trailer that will eliminate reliance on a third party and allow the City to control when and how often collection bins are emptied.

Speaking about the impact this project will have, Director of Marketing and Economic Development Shannon Bryant said, “We are ecstatic to have received this opportunity. We have been looking for ways to relocate and expand our services, and even included this project in the 2024 SPLOST. Now

that we have received this grant, we can expedite this project, and use the SPLOST funds for additional equipment, maintenance, or services related to the recycling center down the line. We understand the importance of this service, both to our citizens and to the surrounding communities, and we look forward to many more years of offering this option for the good of our planet.”

The project’s initial planning phase has already begun, and the City hopes to complete the project within a year. The current location at 101 Industrial Way will remain open as long as possible during the creation of the new center. The recycling center is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. This is a free service, but donations are welcome to help offset the tipping fees associated with hauled loads. There are also volunteer opportunities available, and those are anticipated to increase with the expansion of services.