Changes Coming To Athens-Limestone Recycling Center Due To COVID-19

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center located at 15896 Lucas Ferry Rd. has reduced the hours for drop-off of recyclables at the center to 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. only effective immediately. After 3:00 p.m., all bins will be removed. As of Friday, March 20th at 2:00 p.m., the center will completely discontinue accepting recyclables at the plant until further notice.

All community collection trailers in Limestone County will gradually be phased out until further notice. If a trailer is full or a trailer has been removed, do not leave recyclables of any kind.

This is necessary because the recyclables at the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center are processed by inmates from the Decatur Correctional Facility who are currently unable to leave the jail. With no workers to process materials, this difficult decision had to be made. Once the inmates can return to work, the center will reopen and community collection trailers will be put back in place.

The City of Athens has also had to suspend curbside recycling pickup for the same reason. Anyone with curbside recycling may bring it to the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center; however, it MUST BE SORTED. The center on Lucas Ferry Rd. is not set up to accept comingled (mixed together) recycling. Anyone who is unwilling to sort their recycling should not bring it to our center. The only options are to hold the materials until curbside pickup is resumed or place the materials in your trash.

The last time the recycling center closed down for a few days over Christmas, there was a serious dumping problem. There are cameras at the center and anyone caught leaving unsorted recyclables prior to the shutdown, or anyone dumping recyclables after the center closes will be prosecuted.
Please be respectful of the few employees left to run the recycling center and honor these changes.

Please direct any questions to 256-233-8746 or 256-233-8000.