Garden City Curbside Recycling to Start in September

Garden City has become the latest Chatham County city to add curbside recycling. The City Council unanimously approved a recycling plan at their meeting Monday night.

Starting in September, garbage pickup will be reduced from twice a week to once a week. Recycling will be picked up twice a month. Customers will receive special 96-gallon containers for all recyclables.

Garden City officials recognize the importance of the city doing its part to help the environment, so their goal is to reduce the city's solid waste footprint by 10 percent in the short term.

According to estimates, people in Garden City throw away more than 26 million pounds of garbage a year, and up to sixty percent of what people throw away could be recycled.

"The fact that it's curbside is a very important aspect, especially for our elderly populace that either can't or soon won't be able to take all 12 containers that they have to a drop off point, where here it's single stream, all the approved items are thrown into one container, picked up from your curb," said city administrator Brian Johnson.

The cost of trash pickup will go up 40 cents to $16.15 a month, but officials say that's not because of the recycling.

"The cost of doing business increase that Waste Management finds itself with, which is going to be passed onto us which is obviously passed onto our customers, that's coming regardless," said Johnson.

Some people had concerns, but most walked away pleased with what they heard.

"We're really paying more money and we're getting less pickup. Then they explained that we're going to have less garbage, so therefore we probably won't need as many pickups. that sounds reasonable," said Judy Rahn.

"I think it'd be good for the landfill. I think it's good for the environment," said Allen Flanders.

"I wish they'd started it sooner. I've been recycling on my own for probably 20-30 years, and I have to carry it here and there and yonder, and this'll be great for me. I won't have to spend a lot of gas money," said Reba Jones.

Savannah started curbside recycling in January under a similar plan to Garden City's. Port Wentworth also offers curbside recycling but items must be placed in separate bins. Chatham County has considered curbside recycling, but county officials said they didn't want to tack on more fees for taxpayers in the bad economy.

People in garden city will start getting their containers in mid-August. You'll also receive a new pickup schedule. It all goes into effect September 1.