Changes in how garbage, recycling and yard debris are collected in Macon-Bibb County also means adjustments for residents when it comes to how and when the items should be placed by the street.
Staff from Macon-Bibb County and private collection company Advanced Disposal Services demonstrated the changes Friday that will impact residents. On Jan. 4, garbage will be picked up by Advanced Disposal Services across the entire county while the county’s Solid Waste Department takes over recycling efforts.
For some households, those differences will mean a new day for garbage collection. Stickers will be put on containers to notify those whose collection day will change.
Also, garbage containers will have to be placed no more than two feet from the curb and with the handles facing away from the road to allow the trucks’ mechanical arms to pick them up.
Meanwhile, people interested in recycling can request from the county a 65-gallon container that will be picked up every other week.
“We’re trying to divert waste going into the landfills and create a better recycling program,” said Kevin Barkley, director of the Macon-Bibb Solid Waste Department.
County trucks are now being equipped with new decals on their sides that detail the recycling initiative.
“Some of the complaints we had were people thinking we were throwing the recycling in with garbage,” Barkley said. “This new signage shows the trucks are strictly for recycling.”