2008 Annual Solid Waste Report  Executive Summary 
The Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act of 1990 requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), with the cooperation of the Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA), to report annually on the state of solid waste management in Georgia. Per the Act, the FY 2008 report, covering the period of July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008, contains information on: 
 the status of local and regional solid waste management planning in Georgia;  the number and types of solid waste handling facilities in the state;  the remaining capacity of each permitted solid waste handling facility;  the number and types of solid waste grants and loans made to local governments;  a compilation and analysis of solid waste management data provided by cities and 
counties through their completed Solid Waste Survey;  a statement of progress achieved in meeting the goal established in subsection (c) of 
Code Section 12-8-21;  a statement of progress achieved in solid waste management education;  any revisions in the state solid waste management plan deemed necessary; and  recommendations for improving the management of solid waste in Georgia. 
This and previous reports are available online at www.dca.ga.gov, under Office of Environmental Management programs. 
Further, the Act requires DCA to report on the status of litter prevention and abatement in the state. The litter report shall include but not be limited to: 
 An itemization of expenditures made from the Solid Waste Trust Fund for the prevention and abatement of litter; 
 A compilation and analysis of litter prevention, collection, and enforcement efforts;  An assessment of littering in the state;  A statement of progress in achieving a litter prevention ethic; and  Recommendations for improving litter abatement and prevention efforts. 
This litter report is available online at www.dca.ga.gov, under Office of Environmental Management programs. 
The Solid Waste Management Act requires all local governments to have, or be included in, a solid waste management plan that demonstrates adequate waste disposal capacity and collection capability for a 10-year period. Twenty-six (26) cities and seven (7) counties did not have an approved plan by the end of FY 2008. Local governments that failed to adopt approved solid waste management plans are listed and continually updated online at: www.GeorgiaPlanning.com 
During FY 2008, 16.3 million tons of waste was sent to permitted Georgia disposal facilities. Most of this waste entered lined, monitored landfills operating under federal Subtitle D regulations. A small and dwindling percentage of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) entered unlined landfills that have been allowed to operate under their pre-Subtitle D permits. Construction and Demolition waste (C&D), a subset of MSW, generally goes to unlined landfills that are less expensive to operate. 
The state continues to have an adequate supply of permitted disposal capacity with 26.6 years of remaining permitted Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal capacity and 25.1 years of remaining permitted Construction and Demolition (C&D) disposal capacity. It is important for the state and local governments to carefully monitor the remaining permitted disposal capacity throughout Georgia. In FY 2008 more than a third of the permitted disposal capacity in the state was contained in just 4 of the 117 active landfills. This concentration heightens the need to carefully monitor the financial assurances of these and all the disposal facilities in the state. Without 
Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 proper financial assurance, the incredible costs of cleaning up abandoned, leaking landfills may fall to local governments and possibly the state. 
This concentrated disposal capacity also emphasizes the need for local solid waste management planning. The Northeast Georgia RDC continues to have less than 10 years of permitted disposal capacity. Demonstration of capacity and capacity assurance is highly dependent upon the permitting process and the time it takes for a solid waste handling permit to be issued. This process typically takes several years, during which time permits for surrounding facilities may lapse or private sector business arrangements to accept varying rates of material for disposal can greatly alter the projected life expectancy of existing landfills. (See section A Disposal and Capacity and section B Per Capita Disposal for more details) 
The level and type of solid waste, recycling and yard trimmings collection services provided throughout the state varies greatly depending upon a community's size, density, and demographic profile. To track solid waste management trends, DCA administers an annual survey of all local governments in Georgia1. It is encouraging that despite the current economic recession, the numbers of communities reporting they had recycling services available were reported higher than they have been for the past decade. 
During FY 2008, 28 cities and 21 counties reported actively promoting waste minimization practices such as home composting or beneficial reuse of yard trimmings. During FY 2008, 304 cities and 45 counties reported collecting yard trimmings for diversion from MSW landfills. (See section C: Solid Waste & Recycling Collection of the report for more details.) 
The increasing use of inert landfills and transfer stations, for which no reporting requirements exist, should be monitored and addressed in local solid waste planning efforts. As the state implements the strategy for reducing the MSW disposal rate, efforts to quantify and address C&D waste reduction and solid waste from mining, agricultural, or silviculture operations or industrial processes or operations needs to be completed. 
Education efforts are essential to waste reduction efforts. Keep Georgia Beautiful continues supporting the waste reduction and education efforts of the 77 Keep America Beautiful affiliates in Georgia. As state grant funds that have historically helped local governments educate and enforce litter abatement efforts diminish, these local affiliates are struggling to find the necessary resources to keep their communities livable. DCA has conducted Waste in Place workshops and workshops related to solid waste planning during 2008. 
Another growing trend that needs to be carefully monitored is the amount of waste imported to Georgia for disposal and its potential impact on future disposal capacity and Georgia's environment. With statewide MSW tipping fees at $35.15 per ton ($23.72 for C&D waste), far less than Northeastern states and Florida, Georgia landfills represent considerable cost-savings for companies moving large amounts of waste. Because the waste reduction goal specified in the Act includes all waste disposed in MSW landfills in Georgia, this out-of-state waste is included in the state's progress toward meeting the waste reduction goal, and undercuts waste reduction and recycling efforts undertaken by Georgians. On a per capita basis, 7.14 pounds of waste entered MSW landfills daily during FY 2008, and nearly one pound/day of that came from outside Georgia's borders. (See section B: Per Capita Disposal and section D: MSW & C&D Landfill Tipping Fees of the report for more details) 
During Fiscal Year 2008, over 2.9 million dollars ($2,927,020) in Solid Waste Trust Fund (SWTF) receipts were awarded to Georgia communities to help them manage solid waste. EPD disbursed over $118,000 in Local Government Enforcement and Education grants in FY 2008. The program funded projects in 19 communities, offsetting the local costs to develop and 
Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 maintain a local code enforcement program to prevent and enforce against the illegal disposal and management of scrap tires and solid waste. 
GEFA disbursed $241,124.85 in Recycling and Waste Reduction Grants in FY 2008. The program funded projects in 11 local communities, offsetting the local costs of waste reduction and recycling through the purchase of equipment for local government recycling centers. Another financial support program offered by GEFA is their low interest revolving loan program available to local governments. Drawing upon funds from its bond proceeds and revolving loan program, GEFA loaned $4,655,000 to three (3) local jurisdictions in FY 2008 for landfill construction and management. 
In FY 2008, DCA's Office of Environmental Management implemented two (2) recycling infrastructure grants, the Away-from-Home Recycling Grant and the Regional Recycling Hub Grant programs, both of which were supported by Solid Waste Trust Fund dollars. DCA awarded $2,567,518 in FY 2008 to fund these recycling infrastructure grant programs. 
The Away-From-Home Recycling grant included $350,000 dollars from the SWTF, a program partner contribution $40,000 Curbside Value Partnership (CVP), and $25,000 in corporate donations from Coca Cola for a total program value of $415,000. The program funded grant projects in 29 communities across the State. So far, more than 42 tons of lightweight materials have been diverted from the waste stream for recycling. More importantly, nearly 3 million patrons attending these special events were exposed to the recycling message. And it's important to note that most of the events using the equipment had never collected recyclables before. The Regional Recycling Hubs grant was funded with $2,217,518 from the SWTF. DCA leveraged additional funding totaling $8,042,950 ($4,938,696 in partner-level support and $3,104,254 local government support) for the Hub program. For every $1 (one dollar) of Solid Waste Trust Fund grant funding, DCA leveraged over $3.60 in partner match dollars from private and local government support. Grants were awarded to four (4) local governments across the State. 
Historically funding from the SWTF had been used to support a variety of local government waste reduction programs throughout the state. In response to the needs identified in the 2006 Annual Solid Waste Report and the need to "change business as usual" to affect a change (reduction) in the amount of MSW waste being disposed in the state, a statewide waste reduction and recycling strategy was drafted with the input of local governments and Georgia businesses using recycled content materials. The four part strategy, presented for implementation and funding is outlined below: 
 Away From Home Recycling Equipment to facilitate recycling at sporting events, festivals and other special events 
 Recycling Hubs Infrastructure dollars to develop collection capability leveraging the private sector's shift toward single-stream processing capability, and increasing collection in rural areas of the state. 
 Statewide Recycling Campaign An umbrella marketing campaign focused on increasing recycling participation. This effort will push Georgia residents to look for recycling at special events and their homes and places of work. 
Revised July 31, 2009 
 
  ReTrac  Reporting Metrics All of the above efforts will be tracked via an innovative online reporting mechanism that will link the solid waste annual surveys local governments must complete for DCA, and results from the AwayFrom-Home recycling campaign. 
 
These efforts are in line with a waste reduction goal that identifies specific targets to meet the general goal of reducing the amount of MSW disposed on a per capita basis. The waste disposal characterization study conducted in 2004 identified what Georgians were throwing away on an annual basis. Using this data, DCA was able to identify the Georgia industry demand for these materials and convened a Recycling Stakeholder Group with over 60 representatives, including representatives from businesses, local governments, and other state agencies to formulate a commodity based waste disposal reduction goal(s). Establishing a baseline goal was the first step to measuring waste reduction and recycling success. The group identified the following goals: 
 
Commodity 
Glass Paper Metal Plastic Total 
 
Per Capita MSW Disposal Rate/MSW Reduction Goal 
 
Actual 
 
Projected 
 
Projected Projected 
 
2004 
 
2012 
 
% 
 
2017 
 
Lbs/person Lbs/person 2012 
 
Lbs/person 
 
0.153 
 
0.140 
 
8% 
 
0.140 
 
1.181 
 
1.000 
 
15% 
 
0.850 
 
0.228 
 
0.198 
 
13% 
 
0.186 
 
0.663 
 
0.560 
 
16% 
 
0.530 
 
2.23 
 
1.99 
 
11% 
 
1.71 
 
Projected % 2017 
8% 28% 18% 20% 23% 
 
In FY 2008, for the first time, Georgia saw a significant reduction in the per-capita disposal rate. The amount of waste sent to MSW landfills for every Georgia resident fell nearly half a pound, from 7.45 to 7.14 pounds per person, per day. While the economic recession has certainly had an impact upon disposal rates, it can also be fairly argued that the state's aggressive recycling programs and private-sector partnerships are beginning to have an effect. But to meet the goals outlined above, continued diligence, planning and funding will be needed. 
 
This report is available online at www.dca.ga.gov, under Office of Environmental Management programs. 
 
Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
During Fiscal Year 2008 the amount of waste sent to Georgia Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Construction and Demolition (C&D) landfills decreased dramatically reversing more than a decade of rising disposal. (The possible 
 
Landfill Quick Facts FY 2008 
Private Public 
 
reasons for this change are explored in the Executive Summary of this report.) MSW 
 
Permitted capacity in 2008 is estimated to be approximately 26.6 years of Disposal 
 
remaining MSW landfill space and 25.1 years of remaining permitted C&D landfill space. However, some areas of the state, particularly Northeast Georgia, are quickly running out of disposal capacity. 
 
Landfill Ownership 
 
8.4 million 4.2 million 
 
tons 
 
tons 
 
16 facilities 47 facilities 
 
Where Does the Waste Go? 
 
Remaining Capacity 
 
Much of the waste disposed of in Georgia enters lined, monitored MSW Landfills. Of the 16,267,962 tons of waste disposed in permitted Georgia disposal facilities 
 
Years 
 
18.8 
 
38.9 
 
Cubic Yards 218 million 239 million 
 
during FY 2008, 12,406,504 tons, or 76%, entered lined, monitored landfills meeting federal Subtitle D requirements. Twenty-two percent of the waste (3,603,439 tons) entered unlined Construction and Demolition landfills. The remainder was divided among unlined Municipal Solid Waste landfills (175,319 or 1.0%) the state's only MSW incinerator (41,351 tons; 0.2%), and the state's only large-scale MSW composting facility (approximately 50,000 tons.) 
 
C&D 
Disposal 
Landfill Ownership Remaining 
 
2.9 million 719,000 tons tons 
22 facilities 32 facilities 
 
Most of the waste disposed in Georgia enters private landfills. In FY 2008, landfill owners/operators reported 8,435,506 tons of waste entering 16 private MSW landfills, compared with 9,134,630 tons entering 16 private MSW landfills in FY 
 
Capacity 
 
Years 
 
23.3 
 
Cubic Yards 83 million 
 
31.7 32 million 
 
2007. In FY 2008, 4,187,667 tons of waste entered 47 publicly owned MSW 
 
landfills in the state, compared with 4,348,113 tons entering 50 public MSW landfills the previous year. From FY 1993- 
 
2008, the number of MSW landfills operated by cities, counties, and solid waste authorities dropped from 121 to 62; 17 of 
 
the MSW landfills also operate a separate cell within their MSW landfill for C&D materials only. 
 
Tons of Waste Disposed FY 1999 - 2008 
 
16,000,000 
 
14,000,000 
 
12,000,000 
 
10,000,000 
 
Tons 
 
8,000,000 
 
6,000,000 
 
4,000,000 
 
2,000,000 
 
0 1999 
 
2000 
 
2001 
 
2002 
 
2003 2004 
Fiscal Year 
MSW C&D 
 
2005 
 
A - 1 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
2006 
 
2007 
 
2008 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
C&D Landfills 
Construction and Demolition landfills are permitted disposal facilities that can only accept waste building materials and rubble resulting from construction, remodeling, repair, and demolition operations on pavements, houses, commercial buildings and other structures. Such wastes include, but are not limited to, yard trimmings, asbestos-containing waste, wood, bricks, metal, concrete, wall board, paper, cardboard, inert waste landfill material, and other nonputrescible wastes which have a low potential for groundwater contamination. 
In FY 2008, landfill operators reported 2,884,282 tons of waste entering 22 private C&D facilities, while 719,157 tons of waste entered 32 publicly owned facilities. 
 
Permitted Solid Waste Management Facilities FY 1999-20081 
 
Inert Landfills Collection Operations2 Transfer Stations On-Site Thermal Treatment Facilities On-site Processing Facilities Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Construction and Demolition Landfills Recovered Materials Processing Facilities Composting Facilities Waste-to-Energy Facility 
 
2000 
2,304 610 176 83 84 69 34 
5 3 1 
 
2001 
2,399 708 202 88 92 62 33 
5 3 1 
 
2002 
2,424 775 230 89 95 60 46 
3 3 1 
 
2003 
2,354 796 233 99 90 58 51 
0 3 1 
 
2004 
2,389 872 76 101 93 58 54 
1 3 1 
 
2005 
2,373 891 76 101 99 55 54 
1 3 1 
 
2006 
2,437 946 78 96 100 66* 54* 
1 3 1 
 
2007 
2,455 966 79 96 105 66* 54* 
1 5 1 
 
2008 
2,424 992 80 583 111 65 54 
1 5 1 
 
Air Curtain Destructors 
 
3 
 
1 
 
3 
 
0 
 
5 
 
5 
 
5 
 
5 
 
5 
 
Commercial Industrial Waste Landfill 
 
1 
 
1 
 
1 
 
1 
 
1 
 
1 
 
1 
 
1 
 
1 
 
1. Operating as of July 2006; some facilities cease operations or are added, so these figures may differ from those used elsewhere in this 
 
report. 
 
2. Collection operations are any entity that collects waste from residential or commercial locations. 
 
3. EPD updated its database of these facilities to verify those still in operation; many had ceased operations. 
 
*EPD counts MSW landfills accepting C&D waste in specially-designated cells as C&D landfills. For the purposes of this report, DCA counts 
 
them as MSW. 
 
Unlined Landfills 
 
During FY 2008, 175,319 
 
Unlined Landfills Accepting MSW 
 
tons of waste was disposed 
 
FY 2008 
 
in five unlined MSW landfills. 
 
County Facility Name 
 
Total 
 
Avg. Remaining Remaining 
 
This represents approximately 
 
Tons Daily Capacity Capacity 
 
1.4% of the total waste entering 
 
Disposed Tons 
 
(CY) 
 
(Years) 
 
MSW landfills in Georgia. As of 
 
Bibb 
 
Macon-Walker 
 
117,505 
 
377 
 
1,924,398 
 
8 
 
July 2008, four unlined MSW 
 
Road Phase 2 (SL) 
 
facilities were still operating 
 
Grady 
 
Cairo-6th Ave. (SL) 
 
30,722 
 
73 
 
284,078 
 
16 
 
under their original EPDapproved permits, and had not 
 
Liberty 
 
U.S. Army-Ft. Stewart Main Cantonment (SL) 
 
9,550 
 
33 
 
576,070 
 
30 
 
reached their closure 
 
McIntosh 
 
McIntosh County- 
 
17,542 
 
56 
 
602,834 
 
17 
 
capacity. Until they do, they must 
 
King Road (SL) 
 
adhere to the same operating 
 
Total 
 
175,319 539 3,387,380 
 
procedures and methane 
 
Average 
 
43,829 194 
 
846,845 
 
12.1 
 
monitoring requirements as their 
 
more modern counterparts. When the unlined facilities close, they will be capped and monitored under federal Subtitle D 
 
regulations. There is no time limit for these landfills to meet Subtitle D regulations, but they will not be granted expansion 
 
permits. It is likely a small percentage of MSW generated in Georgia will continue to be disposed in unlined landfills for 
 
years to come. 
 
A - 2 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
Other Disposal Facilities 
There is one MSW incinerator operating in Georgia accepting MSW. Located in Chatham County, the operation is also known as a waste-to-energy facility. The facility receives an average of 159 tons per day, mostly from the city of Savannah. During FY 2008, 41,350 tons of waste was incinerated at this facility before it ceased operations. There are several other types of incinerators in public and private use that accept only specialized waste, such as wood waste. 
Another unique waste disposal operation in Georgia is Cobb County's MSW composting facility. The facility accepts approximately 155 tons per day of MSW collected in Cobb County. The composting process results in a clean, beneficial soil amendment given to Cobb residents free of charge. During FY 2008, approximately 40,000 tons of MSW was processed at the Cobb Composting facility. 
Transfer stations are not actual disposal facilities, but they can offer significant collection savings and are becoming more common. There are nearly as many transfer stations as there are landfills, and the largest accept more than 1,000 tons of waste daily. Because these facilities are permit-by-rule, they do not have to pay the $1 per-ton (minimum) host fee to local governments that MSW and C&D landfills must, per the Act, and they do not receive the same regulatory oversight from regulators that landfills do. 
Imported Waste 
The amount of waste brought to Georgia from other states and disposed is more than eight times greater than it was in FY 1998. Waste imports fell slightly from 1,912,674 tons in FY 2007 to 1,857,687 tons in FY 2008. Most of the waste brought to Georgia from other states is MSW (83%), with the remainder entering C&D landfills. Out-of-state waste amounts to 11.4% of the total amount of waste disposed in Georgia or 14.7% of the waste entering MSW landfills in the state. (See Imported Waste FY 1998-2008) It is difficult to track border waste exchange, and it is suspected that in most cases, it travels relatively short distances across state lines. Based on telephone interviews with transfer station operators that ship waste out of state, it is believed that approximately 150,000 tons per year of Georgia-generated waste is sent to neighboring states. 
 
2500000 
 
Imported Waste FY 1999 - 2008 
 
2000000 
 
1500000 
 
Tons 
 
1000000 
 
500000 
 
0 1999 
 
2000 
 
2001 
 
2002 
 
2003 2004 Fiscal Year 
 
2005 
 
2006 
 
2007 
 
2008 
 
A - 3 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
Capacity, or the amount of available space in landfills to dispose of tightly compacted waste, grew from 559 million cubic yards in FY 2007 to 572 million cubic yards in FY 2008. Georgia has an estimated 26.6 years of remaining permitted MSW capacity statewide, based upon 2008 disposal rates. A regional breakdown, by Regional Development Center, can be found on page A-9. The projection of remaining capacity is based upon current disposal rates and disposal capacity permitted by the Georgia EPD, but not necessarily constructed landfill space. The number of MSW landfills in Georgia has fallen since tighter federal regulations were adopted in the mid-1990s, but the number of C&D landfills increased to 54. In FY 1993, there were 187 public and private landfills in Georgia, and 75% of these were small facilities that only accepted waste generated within the host county. For FY 2008, more than a third of the state's permitted disposal capacity sits in just four facilities, although there are 117 active permitted landfills in Georgia. These gains in remaining disposal capacity have occurred while smaller or older landfills are closed and enter lengthy post-closure monitoring periods. The table entitled `Georgia Landfills with Most Remaining Permitted Disposal Capacity FY 2008' on page A-8 ranks the top five landfills in the state by remaining disposal capacity. 
Landfill Capacity by Type FY 1999 - 2008 
700,000,000 
 
600,000,000 
 
500,000,000 
 
Cubic Yards 
 
400,000,000 300,000,000 
 
MSWL SL C&D/L Total 
 
200,000,000 
 
100,000,000 
 
0 1999 
 
2000 
 
2001 
 
2002 
 
2003 
 
2004 
 
Fiscal Year 
 
2005 
 
2006 
 
2007 
 
2008 
 
A - 4 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
Remaining MSW Landfill Capacity 
 
FY 2008 
 
FY 2007 
 
Map prepared by: Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Source: Years of remaining capacity by Regional Development Center was calculated using EPD-supplied average rate of fill and cubic yards of remaining capacity, based on 260 operating days per year. 
A - 5 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
Legend 
Less than 10 years 10 - 19 years 20 - 29 years 30 years and above 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
Georgia Landfills with Most Remaining Permitted Disposal Capacity 
 
FY 2008 
 
County Facility Name Total Tons Domain Facility Remaining Avg. Rate of 
 
Remaining 
 
Disposed 
 
Type Capacity (CY) Daily Fill (CYD) Permitted Capacity 
 
FY 2008 
 
Tons 
 
(Years) 
 
Richmond Richmond Co. - 
 
348,552 Public 
 
MSWL 
 
Deans Bridge Rd. 
 
Phase 3 
 
56,027,297 
 
1,230 
 
1,655 
 
116 
 
DeKalb DeKalb Co. - 
 
676,016 Public 
 
MSWL 
 
Seminole Rd Ph 2a, 3, 
 
& 4 (SL) 
 
49,032,309 
 
2,207 
 
2,247 
 
67 
 
Taylor Allied Services, LLC - 
 
377,574 Private 
 
MSWL 
 
S.R. 90/ S.R. 137 
 
47,801,524 
 
2,000 
 
2,500 
 
68 
 
Cherokee Cherokee Co. - Pine 
 
1,248,275 Private 
 
MSWL 
 
Bluff Landfill, Inc. 
 
37,651,770 
 
4,500 
 
6,000 
 
26 
 
Butts 
 
Butts Co. - Pine Ridge 
 
946,283 Private 
 
MSWL 
 
Recycling 
 
33,573,784 
 
3,334 
 
4,081 
 
29 
 
Total 
 
3,596,700 
 
224,086,684 13,271 16,483 
 
52.3 
 
County Facility Name 
 
Cherokee Cherokee Co. - Pine 
 
Bluff Landfill, Inc. 
 
Butts 
 
Butts Co. - Pine 
 
Ridge Recycling 
 
Wayne Wayne Co. - S.R. 23 
 
Broadhurst 
 
Charlton Chesser Island 
 
Road Landfill, Inc. 
 
Banks Chambers R&B 
 
Landfill Site #2 
 
Total 
 
Georgia Landfills Receiving the Most Waste 
 
FY 2008 
 
Total Tons Domain Facility Remaining Avg. Rate of 
 
Remaining 
 
Disposed 
 
Type Capacity (CY) Daily Fill (CYD) Permitted Capacity 
 
FY 2008 
 
Tons 
 
(Years) 
 
1,248,275 Private 
 
MSWL 
 
37,651,770 
 
4,500 
 
6,000 
 
26 
 
946,283 Private 
 
MSWL 
 
33,573,784 
 
3,334 
 
4,081 
 
29 
 
754,402 Private 
 
MSWL 
 
8,632,992 
 
2,861 
 
2,949 
 
10 
 
749,532 Private 
 
MSWL 
 
10,509,675 
 
2,800 
 
3,500 
 
10 
 
946,574 Private 
 
MSWL 
 
14,114,415 
 
3,000 
 
4,412 
 
10 
 
4,645,066 
 
104,482,636 16,495 20,942 
 
(Average) 19.2 
 
A - 6 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
Regional Development Center 
Atlanta Regional Commission Central Savannah River Area Chattahoochee Flint Coastal Georgia Coosa Valley Georgia Mountains Heart of Georgia-Altamaha Lower Chattahoochee McIntosh Trail Middle Flint Middle Georgia North Georgia Northeast Georgia South Georgia Southeast Georgia Southwest Georgia 
Statewide C&D Total 
 
Disposal Capacity by RDC 
 
Construction and Demolition Waste Landfills 
 
FY 2008 
 
Total Tons 
 
Remaining Permitted Capacity Remaining Permitted Capacity 
 
Disposed 
 
(Cubic Yards) 
 
(Years) 
 
2,347,333 70,311 15,667 
211,096 43,350 
407,227 39,531 5,167 32,008 26,507 79,355 6,942 
202,499 9,063 
36,264 71,119 
 
35,767,490 3,240,104 387,907 
22,532,853 822,866 
11,639,895 3,070,292 N/A 970,841 466,287 3,613,329 4,247,980 
16,924,869 10,224 
574,538 11,138,258 
 
12.5 33.2 11.9 96.4 16.3 33.3 44.9 N/A 23.3 16.6 32.7 196.7 40.9 
0.4 35.0 47.0 
 
3,603,439 
 
115,407,733 
 
25.1 
 
Regional Development Center 
Atlanta Regional Commission Central Savannah River Area Chattahoochee Flint Coastal Georgia Coosa Valley Georgia Mountains Heart of Georgia-Altamaha Lower Chattahoochee McIntosh Trail Middle Flint Middle Georgia North Georgia Northeast Georgia South Georgia Southeast Georgia Southwest Georgia 
Statewide MSW Total 
 
Disposal Capacity by RDC 
 
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills 
 
FY 2008 
 
Total Tons 
 
Remaining Permitted Capacity Remaining Permitted Capacity 
 
Disposed 
2,932,124 370,584 124,855 600,476 779,567 
1,746,399 858,237 
 
(Cubic Yards) 
 
101,603,112 58,687,696 3,592,617 7,380,579 30,917,463 53,057,804 12,848,920 
 
(Years) 
 
28.7 119.6 
25.2 8.6 
23.0 20.0 12.7 
 
75,946 1,021,792 
424,107 869,079 261,761 812,622 594,144 804,571 346,909 
 
5,035,574 
 
23.9 
 
39,597,999 
 
33.6 
 
57,147,722 
 
77.1 
 
18,980,876 
 
14.6 
 
21,082,015 
 
56.4 
 
4,605,484 
 
4.7 
 
17,124,821 
 
11.8 
 
17,068,193 
 
16.4 
 
8,572,739 
 
20.1 
 
12,623,173 
 
457,303,614 
 
26.6 
 
Note: For the purposes of reporting regional capacity, MSW landfills that receive C&D waste in specially-designated cells have their tons received recorded as C&D, but their remaining capacity is represented in these tables as MSW, in accordance with their permits. For details on these facilities, please see the table beginning on page A-8. 
 
A - 7 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
County 
 
Facility Name 
 
Atlanta Regional Commission 
 
C&D 
 
Cherokee Cherokee 
 
Construction And 
 
Demolition Landfill 
 
Cherokee Cherokee Co.-Swims- 
 
SR 92 Ph 5 
 
Clayton 
 
Stephens MDS, LP, 
 
C&D 
 
DeKalb 
 
BFI-East DeKalb 
 
Landfill 
 
DeKalb 
 
APAC/Ga - Donzi Ln 
 
Ph 5a (L) 
 
DeKalb 
 
Rogers Lake Road 
 
C&D Landfill 
 
DeKalb 
 
DeKalb Co.-Seminole 
 
Rd Ph 2 (Sl) 
 
Douglas 
 
Douglas Co. - Cedar 
 
Mt/Worthan Rd Ph 1 
 
(SL) 
 
Fulton 
 
Safeguard Landfill 
 
Management C & D 
 
Fulton 
 
Chadwick Rd Landfill, 
 
Inc. 
 
Fulton 
 
Willow Oak C&D 
 
Landfill 
 
MSW 
 
Cherokee Cherokee Co. - Pine 
 
Bluff Landfill, Inc. 
 
Clayton 
 
Clayton Co. - SR 3 
 
Lovejoy Site # 3 
 
DeKalb 
 
DeKalb Co. - 
 
Seminole Rd Ph 2a, 3, 
 
& 4 (SL) 
 
DeKalb 
 
BFI - Hickory Ridge 
 
(MSWL) 
 
Fulton 
 
Chambers - Bolton Rd 
 
(SL) 
 
Gwinnett 
 
BFI-Richland Creek 
 
Rd (SL) 
 
Central Savannah River Area 
 
C&D 
 
Burke 
 
Burke Co. - Clarke 
 
Rd. 
 
Columbia Columbia Co. - 
 
Sample & Son (C&D) 
 
Jenkins 
 
Jenkins Co. - CR 54 
 
Richmond US Army-Ft. 
 
Gordon/Gibson Rd. 
 
Washington Washington Co. - 
 
Kaolin Rd. 
 
MSW 
 
Columbia Columbia Co. - Baker 
 
Place Rd (Sl), Ph 2 
 
Jefferson 
 
Jefferson Co. - CR138 
 
Richmond Richmond Co. - 
 
Deans Bridge Rd. 
 
Washington Washington Co. - 
 
Kaolin Rd. 
 
Chattahoochee Flint 
 
C&D 
 
Coweta 
 
Coweta Co. - Ishman 
 
Ballard Rd. Landfill 
 
Total Tons Domain Facility 
 
Disposed 
 
Type 
 
FY 2008 
 
Remaining Capacity (CY) Average Daily Tons Rate of Fill (CYD) 
 
138,023 Private C&D 
 
40,982 Private 853 Private 
28,752 Private 519,483 Private 261,207 Private 109,029 Public 
29,250 Public 
 
C&D C&D C&D C&D C&D C&D C&D 
 
510,801 Private 231,689 Private 477,264 Private 
 
C&D C&D C&D 
 
1,248,275 53,643 
676,016 
 
Private Public Public 
 
MSWL MSWL MSWL 
 
154,020 24,158 
776,012 
 
Private Private Private 
 
MSWL MSWL MSWL 
 
2,693,413 130,910 
14,219,633 148,023 675,000 734,465 89,757 
567,746 1,747,566 2,052,631 12,708,346 
37,651,770 2,886,189 
49,032,309 253,978 57,100 
11,721,766 
 
397 133 
53 213 1,703 875 356 
97 1,910 
800 1,500 
4,500 174 
2,207 546 80 
2,610 
 
567 266 
97 225 1,190 1,342 308 
193 3,183 1,356 2,308 
6,000 347 
2,247 596 186 
4,238 
 
20,552 
42,610 4,994 623 1,532 
 
Public 
Private Public Public 
Public 
 
10 
14,640 348,552 
7,382 
 
Public 
Public Public 
Public 
 
C&D C&D C&D C&D MSWL 
MSWL MSWL MSWL MSWL 
 
118,659 2,896,451 
88,194 136,800 
61,425 
In closure 1,338,413 56,027,297 1,260,561 
 
14 140 
22 28 25 
47 1,230 
37 
 
55 209 
55 56 37 
94 1,655 
101 
 
2,932 
 
Public 
 
C&D 
 
222,514 
 
A - 8 
 
Revised July 31, 2009 
 
16 
 
40 
 
Remaining Permitted Capacity (Years) 
17 2 
564 2 2 2 1 
10 2 5 
20 
26 27 
67 1 1 
10 
8 45 65 14 
7 
46 116 
48 
18 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
County 
 
Facility Name 
 
Troup 
MSW Troup 
 
Troup Co. - S.R. 109 Mountville 
LaGrange - I 85/ S.R. 109 
 
Coastal Georgia 
 
C&D 
 
Camden 
 
Camden Co. - S.R. 110 C/D/I Landfill 
 
Glynn Liberty 
 
Eller - Whitlock Ave U. S. Army Ft. Stewart Main Cantonment 
 
MSW 
 
Camden 
 
Camden Co. - S.R. 
 
110 
 
Chatham 
 
Savannah - Dean 
 
Forest Rd. 
 
Chatham 
 
Superior Landfill & 
 
Recycling Center 
 
Liberty 
 
U. S. Army Ft. Stewart 
 
Main Cantonment 
 
McIntosh 
 
McIntosh Co. - King 
 
Rd. 
 
Coosa Valley 
 
C&D 
 
Bartow Floyd Paulding Walker Walker MSW 
 
Bartow Co. - S.R. 294 Emerson Floyd Co. - Rome Walker Mtn. Rd. Paulding Co. Gulledge Rd. Walker Co. - Marble Top Rd. LaFayette-Coffman Springs Rd. 
 
Bartow Floyd Gordon Polk 
 
Bartow Co. - S.R. 294 Emerson Rome Walker Mtn. Rd., Gordon Co. Redbone Ridge Rd. Polk Co. - Grady Rd. 
 
Georgia Mountains 
 
C&D 
 
Forsyth Forsyth 
Franklin Hall 
 
Eagle Point Landfill Greenleaf Recycling, LLC Earth Resources LLC Reliable Tire Service 
 
Habersham Habersham Co. S.R.13 
 
Rabun 
Stephens 
MSW Banks 
Forsyth Habersham 
 
Rabun Co. -- Boggs Mountain Stephens Co.-S.R. 145 
Chambers R&B Landfill Site #2 Eagle Point Landfill Habersham Co. S.R.13 
 
Total Tons Domain Facility 
 
Disposed 
 
Type 
 
FY 2008 
 
12,735 
 
Public 
 
C&D 
 
124,855 
 
Public 
 
MSWL 
 
Remaining Capacity (CY) Average Daily Tons Rate of Fill (CYD) 
 
165,393 
 
42 
 
85 
 
3,592,617 
 
401 
 
549 
 
195,942 
13,173 1,981 
 
Public 
Private Public 
 
C&D 
C&D C&D 
 
63,172 119,247 390,965 
9,550 17,542 
 
Public Public Private Public Public 
 
MSWL 
MSWL 
MSWL 
Unlined MSWL Unlined MSWL 
 
22,364,832 44,866 
123,155 
1,457,443 1,738,785 3,005,447 
576,070 602,834 
 
734 42 7 
230 422 1,270 
33 56 
 
815 70 14 
460 843 1,807 
67 112 
 
31 14,387 
4,608 23,642 
682 
96,081 76,302 264,902 342,282 
 
Public Public Public Public Public 
Public Public Public Public 
 
C&D C&D C&D C&D C&D 
MSWL MSWL MSWL MSWL 
 
11,000 260,841 
1,721 446,816 102,488 
11,180,000 5,023,350 
12,968,385 1,745,728 
 
0 46 
0 70 
3 
333 351 1,138 1,185 
 
0 48 
1 140 
5 
505 702 2,106 1,851 
 
191,576 56,396 7,982 
130,880 10,521 
5,838 4,034 
946,574 687,819 
26,821 
 
Private Private 
Private Private Public 
 
MSWL C&D 
C&D C&D MSWL 
 
3,162,953 
839,167 8,668,428 1,859,855 
 
Public Public 
 
C&D C&D 
 
141,035 216,450 
55,995 
 
Private 
Private Public 
 
MSWL 
MSWL MSWL 
 
14,114,415 29,155,823 
868,104 
 
A - 9 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
709 184 
39 450 
36 17 16 
3,000 2,266 
95 
 
1,289 367 57 789 
66 50 31 
4,412 3,777 
146 
 
Remaining Permitted Capacity (Years) 6 
23 
88 2 
31 
10 7 6 
30 17 
234 20 11 13 70 
8 23 22 
3 
9 7 528 8 
8 16 
7 
10 27 21 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
County 
 
Facility Name 
 
Hall 
 
Hall Co.-Candler Rd. 
 
(S.R. 60) 
 
Heart of Georgia-Altamaha 
 
C&D 
 
Appling 
 
Appling Co.-Roaring 
 
Creek 
 
Evans 
 
Evans Co. -- Little Bull 
 
Creek C&D 
 
Laurens 
 
Laurens Co. - Old 
 
Macon Road 
 
Toombs 
 
Toombs Co. - S1898 
 
MSW 
 
Candler 
 
Candler Co. - S.R. 
 
121 
 
Laurens 
 
Laurens Co. - Old 
 
Macon Rd. 
 
Telfair 
 
Telfair Co. - CR 144 
 
Toombs 
 
Toombs Co. - S 1898 
 
Wayne 
 
Wayne Co. - S.R. 23 
 
Broadhurst 
 
Lower Chattahoochee 
 
C&D 
 
Muscogee Columbus, Pine 
 
Grove 
 
MSW 
 
Muscogee Columbus, Pine 
 
Grove 
 
McIntosh Trail 
 
C&D 
 
Spalding 
 
Spalding Co. - 
 
Griffin/Shoal Creek 
 
Rd. (Phase 2) 
 
MSW 
 
Butts 
 
Butts Co. - Pine Ridge 
 
Recycling 
 
Lamar 
 
Lamar Co. - Cedar 
 
Grove Regional 
 
Middle Flint 
 
C&D 
 
Macon 
 
Macon Co. - Middle 
 
Georgia SWMA 
 
Regional MSWL 
 
MSW 
 
Crisp 
 
Crisp Co. - U.S. 41S 
 
Taylor 
 
Veolia E.S. Taylor Co. 
 
Landfill 
 
Middle Georgia 
 
C&D 
 
Bibb 
 
Swift Creek Landfill 
 
Houston 
 
Houston Co. - 
 
S.R.247 Klondike 
 
MSW 
 
Bibb 
 
Macon - Walker Rd. 
 
Bibb Houston Monroe Twiggs 
 
Swift Creek MSW Landfill Houston Co. - S.R. 247 Klondike Monroe Co. Strickland Loop Rd. Wolf Creek Landfill 
 
Total Tons Domain Facility 
 
Disposed 
 
Type 
 
FY 2008 
 
85,185 
 
Public 
 
MSWL 
 
3,996 
 
Public 
 
5,192 
23,384 
6,959 
11,574 
30,235 
14,314 47,712 754,402 
 
Private 
Public 
Public 
Public 
Public 
Public Public Private 
 
C&D 
C&D MSWL 
C&D MSWL MSWL MSWL MSWL MSWL 
 
5,167 
 
Public 
 
MSWL 
 
75,946 
 
Public 
 
MSWL 
 
32,008 
 
Public 
 
C&D 
 
946,283 75,482 
 
Private Public 
 
MSWL MSWL 
 
26,507 
 
Public 
 
C&D 
 
46,532 377,575 
 
Public Private 
 
MSWL MSWL 
 
19,470 59,885 
 
Private Public 
 
C&D C&D 
 
117,505 205,281 160,172 
18,395 367,726 
 
Public Private Public Public Public 
 
Unlined MSWL MSWL 
MSWL 
MSWL 
MSWL 
 
Remaining Capacity (CY) Average Daily Tons Rate of Fill (CYD) 
 
5,615,474 
 
266 
 
532 
 
430,911 2,434,785 
272,415 204,596 
343,423 1,925,224 
204,596 1,470,270 8,632,992 
200,306 
4,835,268 
 
16 23 77 75 
43 95 75 150 2,861 
21 
304 
 
37 76 210 150 
77 202 150 300 2,949 
75 
736 
 
970,841 
3,3573,784 6,024,215 
 
112 
3,334 391 
 
160 
4,081 455 
 
466287 9,346,198 47,801,524 
358,761 3,254,568 
1,924,398 1,076,015 3,429,998 2,170,246 10,380,219 
 
53 169 2000 
12 202 
377 892 512 
55 1,114 
 
108 352 2,500 
21 404 
753 1,230 
853 322 1,857 
 
Remaining Permitted Capacity (Years) 34 
54 113 
4 5 
18 31 
5 18 10 
11 
26 
21 
29 47 
17 96 68 
64 26 
8 3 13 20 20 
 
A - 10 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
County 
 
Facility Name 
 
North Georgia 
 
C&D 
 
Pickens 
 
K&M 
 
MSW 
 
Murray 
 
Murray Co. - U.S. 411 
 
Westside 
 
Whitfield 
 
Whitfield Co. - Dalton, 
 
Old Dixie Hwy. 
 
Northeast Georgia 
 
C&D 
 
Newton 
 
Newton Co. - Forest 
 
Tower/Lower River 
 
Rd. 
 
Oglethorpe Olgethorpe Co. - U.S. 
 
78 Phase 2 
 
Walton 
 
Republic U.S. 78 C&D 
 
Landfill 
 
Walton 
 
Walton C&D 
 
MSW 
 
Barrow 
 
Republic Waste - Oak 
 
Grove S.R. 324 
 
Clarke 
 
Clarke Co. - Athens 
 
Dunlap Rd. 
 
Newton 
 
Newton Co. - Lower 
 
River Rd. 
 
South Georgia 
 
C&D 
 
Ben Hill 
 
Fitzgerald, Kiochee 
 
Church Rd. Ph. 2 
 
Cook 
 
Cook Co. - Taylor Rd. 
 
Adel 
 
MSW 
 
Ben Hill 
 
Fitzgerald, Kiochee 
 
Church Rd. Ph. 2 
 
Cook 
 
Cook Co. - Taylor Rd. 
 
Lowndes 
 
Veolia E.S. Pecan 
 
Row 
 
Lowndes 
 
Veolia E.S. Evergreen 
 
MSWL 
 
Tift 
 
Tifton- 
 
Omega/Eldorado Rd. 
 
Southeast Georgia 
 
C&D 
 
Atkinson 
 
Atkinson Co.-S.R. 50 
 
Coffee 
 
Transwaste Services, 
 
Inc. C.R. 129/17 
 
MSW 
 
Atkinson 
 
Atkinson Co.-S.R. 50 
 
Charlton 
 
Chesser Island Road 
 
Landfill, Inc. 
 
Southwest Georgia 
 
C&D 
 
Dougherty Dougherty Co.- 
 
Fleming/Gaissert Rd. 
 
Dougherty Maple Hill LF3 
 
Thomas 
 
Thomasville/Sunset 
 
Dr. 
 
MSW 
 
Decatur 
 
U.S. Hwy. 27 MSWL 
 
Dougherty Dougherty Co. - 
 
Fleming/Gaissert Rd. 
 
Grady 
 
Cairo-Sixth Ave 
 
Total Tons Domain Facility 
 
Disposed 
 
Type 
 
FY 2008 
 
Remaining Capacity (CY) Average Daily Tons Rate of Fill (CYD) 
 
6,942 116,912 144,849 
 
Private Public Public 
 
C&D MSWL MSWL 
 
4,247,940 
13,011,107 8,070,908 
 
33 
 
83 
 
453 
 
666 
 
502 
 
772 
 
0 
 
Public 
 
26,777 82,236 93,486 641,632 85,426 85,564 
 
Public Private Private Private Public Public 
 
C&D 
C&D C&D C&D MSWL MSWL MSWL 
 
275,198 637,768 13,621,367 2,390,536 
1,593,257 1,458,001 1,554,226 
 
98 86 339 334 
2,307 279 220 
 
163 172 588 668 
2,816 599 344 
 
1,423 7,640 
 
Public Public 
 
0 8,304 532,927 
24 52,889 
 
Public Public Private Private Public 
 
MSWL C&D 
MSWL MSWL MSWL MSWL MSWL 
 
76,884 10,224 
631,176 10,224 
14,303,642 1,431,336 
671,559 
 
6 50 
2 50 2,000 2,421 182 
 
10 100 
3 100 2,500 2,690 269 
 
36,068 196 
 
Public Private 
 
55,039 749,532 
 
Public Private 
 
MSWL C&D 
MSWL MSWL 
 
3,279,259 574,538 
3,279,259 10,509,675 
 
217 31 
217 2,800 
 
249 63 
249 3,500 
 
14,920 Public 
25,089 Private 31,110 Public 
 
MSWL 
C&D C&D 
 
257,951 10,441,049 
697,209 
 
106,722 94,991 
30,722 
 
Public Public 
Public 
 
MSWL MSWL 
Unlined MSW 
 
1,169,772 4,398,264 
284,078 
 
A - 11 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
49 
 
82 
 
115 
 
230 
 
218 
 
681 
 
400 
 
412 
 
310 
 
442 
 
73 
 
145 
 
Remaining Permitted Capacity (Years) 
179 
72 34 
5 12 90 13 
2 8 15 
30 0 
758 0 
20 2 9 
51 53 51 10 
10 181 
4 10 33 
8 
 
 Disposal and Capacity 2008 Report 
 
County Thomas 
 
Facility Name 
Thomasville/Sunset Dr. 
 
Total Tons Domain Facility 
 
Disposed 
 
Type 
 
FY 2008 
 
114,474 Public 
 
Landfill MSWL 
 
Remaining Capacity (CY) Average Daily Tons Rate of Fill (CYD) 
 
2,462,674 
 
143 
 
558 
 
Remaining Permitted Capacity (Years) 
16 
 
A - 12 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Per Capita Disposal 2008 Solid Waste Management Update 
 
Georgia's waste reduction efforts and continued permitting of new Construction and Demolition landfills, combined with the economic downturn and influx of refugees from the Katrina disaster pushing the state's population near 10 million, has resulted in a marked lowering of Georgia's per-capita disposal rates. As more MSW landfills create special sections of their facilities to accept only C&D waste, they divert that waste stream from their MSW cells, thereby lowering the overall per-capita MSW disposal rates. When excluding out-of-state waste imports, the amount of waste entering Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills fell to 6.07 lbs/person/day in FY 2008. 
Since FY 1998, the per capita municipal solid waste disposal rate had grown from 6.44 lbs/person/day to about 7.5 lbs/person/day in FY 2007. But in FY 2008, Georgia's MSW landfills received 7.14 pounds of waste daily for each resident. Looking at records that exclude the amount of waste disposed from out-of-state sources, the per capita MSW disposal rate has been even lower, climbing from 6.24 lbs/person/day in FY 1998 to 6.46 lbs/person/day in FY 2007 before falling to 6.07 lbs/person/day in FY 2008. 
As shown in the Per Capita Daily Waste Disposal graph, there is more than one way to track per-capita disposal rates. In FY 2008, 16,226,612 tons of waste entered Construction/Demolition and MSW landfills in the Georgia. When looking at the reported total amounts of waste disposed, the per capita waste disposal rate fell to 9.18 lbs/person/day in FY 2008, down from 10.17 lbs/person/day in FY 2007. This figure represents all waste entering MSW and C&D landfills, including out-ofstate sources. It includes residential waste, sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants, some industrial waste, construction debris, commercial and business waste, and waste brought here from other states. It does not include waste sent to incinerators or composting operations. 
Per-Capita Daily Waste Disposal 
12 
 
10 
 
8 
 
6 
 
4 
 
2 
 
0 1999 
 
2000 
 
2001 
 
2002 
 
2003 
 
Total Waste 
 
MSW 
 
2004 
 
2005 
 
2006 
 
Georgia MSW 
 
C&D 
 
2007 
 
2008 
 
B-1 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Per Capita Disposal 2008 Update 
 
Looking at the disposal rate at MSW landfills only, including waste disposed from out-of-state sources, the per capita disposal rate has hovered at about 7.5 pounds per person per day in recent years before dropping in FY 2008. It should be noted that these rates reflect all waste entering a MSW landfill as reported to the EPD, not just MSW. According to a 2001 study, about two-thirds of the waste disposed in MSW landfills is actually MSW. Based upon this estimate, the FY 2008 per capita MSW disposal rate, excluding waste imported into the state, is approximately 4.04 lbs/person/day. 
Imported waste has grown ten-fold, from representing 0.1/lb/person/day in 1998 (less than 200,000 tons) to 1.07 lbs/person/day in FY 2008 (nearly 1.9 million tons.) 
 
Fiscal Year 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
 
Population 
7,844,792 
 
Georgia Waste Disposal Rate and Population 
 
FY 1999-2008 
 
Total Waste Total Waste Total Waste 
 
Landfilled Landfilled Disposed in 
 
(Millions of tons) (Pounds/ MSW Landfills 
 
person/day) 
 
(Tons) 
 
11.43 
 
7.98 
 
9,382,622 
 
Out of State Waste 
(Tons) 453,875 
 
Total MSW 
(Pounds/ person/day) 
6.55 
 
8,015,626 
 
12.71 
 
8.69 
 
9,724,736 
 
511,472 
 
6.65 
 
8,186,453 
 
13.36 
 
8.94 
 
10,678,980 
 
893,651 
 
7.15 
 
8,383,915 
 
13.04 
 
8.52 
 
10,233,692 
 
950,779 
 
6.68 
 
8,544,005 
 
14.25 
 
9.14 
 
11,135,473 
 
1,197,686 
 
7.14 
 
8,684,715 
 
15.77 
 
9.95 
 
11,916,124 
 
1,633,182 
 
7.52 
 
8,918,129 
 
16.46 
 
9.85 
 
12,155,598 
 
1,627,044 
 
7.47 
 
9,132,553 
 
16.66 
 
9.77 
 
12,531,898 
 
1,889,312 
 
7.52 
 
9,363,941 
 
17.39 
 
10.17 
 
12,746,159 
 
1,942,647 
 
7.45 
 
9,685,744 
 
16.27 
 
9.18 
 
12,623,173 
 
1,857,687 
 
7.14 
 
GA MSW 
(Pounds/ person/day) 
6.24 6.30 6.55 6.05 6.38 6.50 6.52 6.48 6.46 6.07 
 
B-2 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Solid Waste & Recycling Collection 2008 Solid Waste Management Update 
 
Waste Collection 
 
The primary objective of waste management is to protect the public and environment from potential harm. The traditional 
 
role of government in solid waste management is the creation and enforcement of regulation to ensure the safety of the 
 
public and environment. A historical as well as a futuristic view is necessary to be able to enact and enforce relevant 
 
effective regulation. One way of acquiring a historical and futuristic view is by using a set of metrics that captures and 
 
analyzes the key indicators of a solid waste management program. The Annual Solid Waste Management Survey 
 
Residential Waste and Recyclables 
 
and Full Cost Report provide us with information on some of the key indicators of solid waste management programs throughout the State. 
 
Collection FY 2006 - 2008 
2006 2007 2008 
 
This update will focus on the level and type of solid waste collection, processing and, recycling methods available throughout the State. The level and type of solid waste, recycling and yard trimmings collection services provided throughout the state varies greatly depending upon a community's size, density and demographic profile. The data contained in this report is obtained mainly from the 
 
No. of local governments responding 
 
631 
 
643 
 
663 
 
to Solid Waste Management Survey 
 
Solid Waste Service Providers 
 
Local governments 
 
593 
 
640 
 
509 
 
providing/arranging for residential 
 
waste collection 
 
Provided by public sector 
 
335 
 
347 
 
429 
 
Provided by private sector 
 
356 
 
293 
 
214 
 
Annual Solid Waste Management Survey and Full Cost Report. This data is used to acquire an over-all "annual snapshot" of solid waste and recycling activities in the State. Before applying any analysis to this data it should be 
 
Types of Residential Programs Curbside/backdoor 
City County 
 
436 
 
448 
 
370 
 
66 
 
71 
 
45 
 
noted that annual response rates vary greatly and may contribute to the variations in trends. 
In the table entitled Residential Waste & Recyclables Collection the changing role of local governments as solid waste collection service providers is highlighted. Many local governments are now "providing for" rather than "arranging for" solid waste collection services. One potential trend appears to be the increasing availability of recycling services. In FY 2006 66% of local governments who provided or arranged for residential waste collection for 
 
Staffed Drop-off 
 
City 
 
42 
 
21 
 
43 
 
County 
 
80 
 
57 
 
78 
 
Unstaffed Drop-off 
 
City 
 
40 
 
26 
 
22 
 
County 
 
43 
 
32 
 
14 
 
Dumpsters (Green box) 
 
City 
 
23 
 
20 
 
22 
 
County 
 
25 
 
17 
 
27 
 
Recycling Service Providers 
 
Local governments making residential 395 
 
408 
 
401 
 
recycling services available 
 
their residents, also made recycling services available, in FY 2008 this number increased to 79%. 
 
Provided by public sector Provided by private sector 
 
264 
 
290 
 
315 
 
77 
 
112 
 
104 
 
Local governments can partner with the private sector to 
 
Provided by non-profit organization 
 
80 
 
80 
 
108 
 
manage the waste generated within their communities by 
 
using permits, ordinances, franchise agreements, and/or contracts. Permits and ordinances governing the collection of 
 
solid waste are typically the least restrictive tools local governments use to manage solid waste collection in their 
 
community. Collection ordinances typically establish general standards by which a private sector service provider must 
 
operate. Franchise agreements, either exclusive or open, generally establish a minimum level of services that must be 
 
provided by all service providers 
 
and usually stipulate the specific operating standards. A contract between a local government and private waste service provider provides the greatest degree of management control over the waste stream, with the local government setting forth specific performance measures and standards to be met 
 
Private/Public Partnerships for Residential Waste Collection 
 
FY 2006 - 2008 
 
2006 
 
2007 
 
2008 
 
City County City County City County 
 
Private collection does not exist 181 
 
59 
 
199 
 
58 
 
199 
 
58 
 
Issue permit or license 
 
57 
 
37 
 
68 
 
41 
 
69 
 
41 
 
Local ordinance 
 
267 
 
84 
 
278 
 
95 
 
279 
 
95 
 
Franchise agreement 
 
142 
 
41 
 
149 
 
42 
 
150 
 
42 
 
Governments contract 
 
260 
 
63 
 
274 
 
64 
 
275 
 
64 
 
by both parties. 
 
Open competition -- no local 
 
169 
 
72 
 
151 
 
74 
 
151 
 
74 
 
government oversight 
 
C - 1 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Solid Waste & Recycling Collection 2008 Update 
 
The number of local governments reporting they use ordinances continues to increase (351 in FY 2006 to 374 in FY 2008). The wording of this question as well as the section of the survey in which the question was asked was changed in FY 2005. We will continue to monitor the trending of this question in the future. 
 
As can be seen in the Residential Waste and Recyclables Collection table (C-1), the types of residential solid waste 
 
collection services range from "green box" or Dumpster drop-off service to curbside or backdoor pick-up. One trend the 
 
Department of Community Affairs has been tracking for several years is the use of Dumpsters. They are often placed in 
 
unsupervised areas, usually in rural communities, for trash collection and frequently become dumping grounds for 
 
everything from household trash to disabled vehicles, 
 
tires, and animal carcasses. They can become an eyesore in a community and attract waste from neighboring jurisdictions. The number of local governments using green boxes for residential waste collection has dwindled. In 1994, 74 cities and 99 counties reported using them for residential waste collection. In FY 2008, just 22 cities and 27 counties 
 
Yard Trimmings Management 
 
FY 2006 - 2008 
 
2006 
 
2007 
 
2008 
 
City County City County City County 
 
Promote home composting and grasscycling 
 
25 
 
25 
 
22 
 
29 
 
28 
 
21 
 
reported using green boxes. 
 
Provide for collection 258 
 
33 
 
326 
 
56 
 
304 
 
45 
 
and disposal 
 
Collection Options 
 
Yard Trimmings Collection 
 
Staffed drop-off facilities 
 
19 
 
28 
 
21 
 
28 
 
12 
 
31 
 
The number of local governments reporting that they 
 
Unstaffed drop-off facilities 
 
9 
 
3 
 
10 
 
3 
 
10 
 
3 
 
provide for the collection and disposal of yard 
 
Curbside collection 
 
294 
 
22 
 
302 
 
21 
 
295 
 
17 
 
trimmings increased from 291 in FY 2006 to 349 in FY 2008. The number of local government reporting 
 
Accepted at 
 
21 
 
32 
 
23 
 
31 
 
15 
 
24 
 
landfill/transfer station 
 
they provide the service has increased from 253 in 
 
FY 2006 to 290 in FY 2008. The type of collection service options ranged from accepting yard trimmings at solid waste 
 
management facilities like a solid waste transfer station to curbside collection programs. 
 
Recyclables Collection 
 
Residential Recycling Service Providers FY 2006 - 2008 
 
During FY 2008, 401 local governments 
 
reported they provided or arranged for 
 
450 
 
residential recycling services in their 
 
400 
 
communities. As can be seen in the 
 
Residential Recycling Services Providers 
 
350 
 
graph, the strong tradition of public, private, 300 
and non-profit partnerships used to provide 
 
recycling services throughout Georgia 
 
250 
 
continues, however it appears that the public 
 
sector maybe taking a stronger role in 
 
200 
 
providing collection services. 
 
150 
 
The number of local governments whose 
 
100 
 
residents have access to recycling services 
 
has increased slightly during the last three 
 
50 
 
years. Collection programs for paper, beverage 0 
containers and plastics continue to rise. It 
 
appears that cities and counties are expanding 
 
collection programs at about the same rate. 
 
This increase in programs may be linked to the 
 
rise in prices for recyclable commodities. What 
 
is notable is the increase in the number of 
 
Counties who reported collecting other 
 
2006 
 
2007 
 
2008 
 
Governments with recycling services available to residents Provided by public sector Provided by private vendor Provided by non-profit organization 
 
C - 2 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Solid Waste & Recycling Collection 2008 Update 
Household Hazardous Waste. 
As shown in the Number of Jurisdictions Collecting Materials for Recycling tables on page C-4, there has been a steady increase in the number of local governments making residential recycling services available in their jurisdictions. Nationally and regionally, market prices for recycled materials have risen steadily. Over the past year we have seen a stabilization of the price for recycled materials. This price stabilization along with local residents demand has prompted local governments to add recycling services and to increase the number of materials they accept in their program. This report does not address the scale of the individual local recycling operations, which would be difficult to quantify. Rather, it focuses upon the level of recycling services being offered throughout the state. Since 1992, newspaper has been reported as the residential recyclable material most widely collected in Georgia, followed by aluminum cans. During FY 2008, the most popular commodities recycled from residences were newspaper (492 jurisdictions reporting collection); aluminum (448); corrugated cardboard (431); magazines (430); and Phone books (415). It should be noted that there was a decrease in the number of jurisdictions collecting these materials. We will continue to monitor this decrease. The tables on page C-4 tally the number of local governments collecting commercial and residential materials for recycling. 
Recyclables Processing 
In FY 2008 145 local governments reported processing residential recyclables as source separated materials, or reported that they collect source-separated materials from their customers. Source-separated means the materials are separated before being collected, typically by the consumer. For example, a homeowner may have to place glass, plastic and metal in separate containers before collection. Commingled collection means the consumer places all the material in one container and the material is sorted after collection, often by paid staff, inmates or probationers. 
 
Processing of Residential Recyclables 
 
FY 2006 - 2008 
 
2006 
 
2007 
 
2008 
 
City County City County City County 
 
Source-separated 
 
79 
 
97 
 
77 
 
92 
 
74 
 
71 
 
Commingled 
 
46 
 
14 
 
31 
 
13 
 
78 
 
21 
 
Both 
 
6 
 
9 
 
9 
 
8 
 
23 
 
20 
 
C - 3 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Solid Waste & Recycling Collection 2008 Update 
 
Number of Jurisdictions Collecting 
 
Number of Jurisdictions Collecting 
 
Residential Materials for Recycling by 
 
Commercial Materials for Recycling 
 
Type 
 
by Type 
 
FY 2005 - 2008 
 
FY 2005 - 2008 
 
2005 2006 2007 2008 
 
Automobile components tires auto batteries motor oil Metals aluminum scrap metal Paper newspaper magazines corrugated cardboard white paper phone books other paper Misc. plastic glass 
 
2005 2006 2007 2008 
 
62 
 
54 
 
47 
 
31 
 
44 
 
38 
 
13 
 
26 
 
50 
 
36 
 
14 
 
24 
 
248 
 
196 
 
187 
 
74 
 
106 
 
94 
 
94 
 
49 
 
293 
 
254 
 
252 
 
69 
 
189 
 
84 
 
67 
 
48 
 
202 
 
177 
 
174 
 
83 
 
98 
 
66 
 
66 
 
* 
 
163 
 
71 
 
71 
 
60 
 
92 
 
50 
 
31 
 
35 
 
214 
 
181 
 
162 
 
* 
 
139 
 
57 
 
47 
 
56 
 
Automobile components tires auto batteries antifreeze motor oil oil filters Metals aluminum steel cans scrap metal aerosol cans Paper newspaper magazines corrugated cardboard phone books paper board other paper Misc. 
 
117 
 
142 
 
127 
 
224 
 
89 
 
100 
 
88 
 
167 
 
18 
 
21 
 
24 
 
78 
 
66 
 
95 
 
100 
 
187 
 
18 
 
28 
 
25 
 
75 
 
292 
 
452 
 
463 
 
448 
 
118 
 
226 
 
228 
 
289 
 
124 
 
208 
 
204 
 
294 
 
16 
 
39 
 
35 
 
101 
 
344 
 
509 
 
507 
 
492 
 
269 
 
378 
 
381 
 
430 
 
280 
 
368 
 
386 
 
431 
 
202 
 
322 
 
324 
 
415 
 
111 
 
72 
 
105 
 
293 
 
172 
 
236 
 
253 
 
339 
 
#1 plastic 
 
247 
 
360 
 
363 
 
378 
 
#2 plastic 
 
208 
 
311 
 
324 
 
348 
 
other plastic 
 
52 
 
69 
 
72 
 
238 
 
glass 
 
180 
 
303 
 
311 
 
361 
 
white goods 
 
246 
 
225 
 
222 
 
324 
 
Christmas trees 
 
253 
 
262 
 
254 
 
363 
 
Transfer Stations 
With fewer, more regional-sized landfills in the state and a 
 
C&D materials agricultural chemical containers 
 
51 
 
48 
 
45 
 
0 
 
15 
 
10 
 
8 
 
37 
 
wide array of solid waste collection programs, solid waste 
 
electronics 
 
12 
 
transfer stations continue to be a popular method of 
 
Household 
 
streamlining solid waste collection services. Transfer stations 
 
Hazardous Waste 
 
are especially effective when collection routes are farther 
 
paint 
 
42 
 
than 50 miles from a landfill. Combining several conventional cleaning products 0 
 
76 
 
102 
 
221 
 
29 
 
27 
 
93 
 
2 
 
0 
 
44 
 
rear-loader garbage truck loads into a single tractor-trailer for 
 
pesticides 
 
4 
 
4 
 
4 
 
19 
 
the trip to the landfill saves fuel costs, vehicle wear and tear, 
 
other 
 
19 
 
12 
 
6 
 
65 
 
and means fewer trucks can service more customers. Only 
 
70 counties reported that they or their contractors used transfer stations for the collection or disposal of residential waste 
 
in FY 2005. By FY 2008, 82 counties or their contractors were using transfer stations to manage residential waste. 
 
Use of Solid Waste 
 
Transfer Stations 
 
FY 2005 - 2008 
 
City 
 
County 
 
2005 
 
153 
 
70 
 
2006 
 
157 
 
72 
 
2007 
 
157 
 
77 
 
2008 
 
106 
 
82 
 
C - 4 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Solid Waste & Recycling Collection 2008 Update 
 
Georgia banned yard trimmings from lined Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills in 1996, as part of an effort to extend landfill disposal capacity. Effective September 1st 1996, each city, county and solid waste management authority was required to impose restrictions on yard trimmings generated in or disposed within their jurisdiction. The restrictions required that yard trimmings: 
 
 Not be placed in or mixed with municipal solid waste; 
 
Yard Trimmings Management 
 
 Be sorted and stored for collection to facilitate composting or other handling; 
 
FY 2006 - 2008 
 
2006 
 
2007 
 
2008 
 
 To the maximum extent feasible be sorted, stockpiled or chipped for composting or used as a mulch or for other beneficial purposes; and 
 Be banned from disposal at MSW disposal facilities having liners and leachate collection systems. 
 
City County City County City County 
 
Promote Home 
 
25 
 
25 
 
22 
 
29 
 
28 
 
21 
 
Composting and 
 
Beneficial Reuse 
 
Provide for collection 258 
 
33 
 
326 
 
56 
 
304 
 
45 
 
and disposal 
 
Collection 
 
Annually, DCA surveys local governments to determine how they collect, process and use yard trimmings generated within their communities. During FY 2008, 28 cities and 21 counties reported actively promoting waste minimization practices such as home composting or beneficial reuse of yard trimmings. During FY 2008, 304 cities and 45 counties reported 
 
Not available 
 
178 
 
96 
 
189 
 
96 
 
203 
 
98 
 
Your government 
 
242 
 
76 
 
245 
 
8 
 
254 
 
36 
 
Another government 17 
 
22 
 
12 
 
9 
 
4 
 
0 
 
Solid Waste 
 
8 
 
11 
 
7 
 
8 
 
1 
 
1 
 
Authority 
 
Private vendor via 
 
11 
 
24 
 
8 
 
17 
 
8 
 
0 
 
individual 
 
subscription 
 
Private vendor via 
 
35 
 
11 
 
36 
 
9 
 
35 
 
5 
 
government contract 
 
collecting yard trimmings for diversion from MSW 
 
Collection Options 
 
landfills. It is not surprising, given lot sizes and 
 
Staffed drop-off 
 
16 
 
32 
 
20 
 
29 
 
12 
 
31 
 
population densities, that cities lead the way in 
 
facilities 
 
providing yard trimmings collection services. Most local 
 
Unstaffed drop-off facilities 
 
10 
 
8 
 
10 
 
3 
 
10 
 
3 
 
governments also reported that they provided the 
 
Curbside collection 
 
240 
 
16 
 
277 
 
22 
 
295 
 
17 
 
collection services with just a few indicating they contracted with a private vendor to collect yard 
 
Accepted at landfill/transfer station 
 
21 
 
44 
 
23 
 
54 
 
15 
 
24 
 
trimmings. In many areas, especially urban and 
 
Other 
 
8 
 
6 
 
suburban communities, the visible result of the yard trimmings ban has been the presence of large paper 
 
Processing Methods 
 
Composting 
 
48 
 
18 
 
35 
 
9 
 
9 
 
1 
 
Solid waste landfill 
 
22 
 
8 
 
42 
 
5 
 
40 
 
1 
 
bags of leaves and grass at curbsides. Collection of 
 
Inert landfill 
 
154 
 
92 
 
104 
 
30 
 
63 
 
16 
 
yard trimmings in paper bags enables them to be ground into a mulch or feedstock for composting. The 
 
Grind/chip into mulch Own a 
 
183 
 
76 
 
158 
 
30 
 
99 
 
12 
 
143 
 
29 
 
144 
 
17 
 
0 
 
0 
 
majority of local governments who reported collecting 
 
chipper/shredder 
 
yard trimmings either ground or shredded the collected 
 
Contract out 
 
31 
 
33 
 
47 
 
21 
 
chipping/shredding 
 
0 
 
0 
 
material for use as mulch, however 79 local 
 
Use another local 
 
18 
 
9 
 
21 
 
3 
 
0 
 
0 
 
governments reported disposing the collected materials government's 
 
into an inert landfill. Composting and chip into mulch were also reported as common processing methods. 
 
chipper/shredder Burning Other 
 
24 
 
4 
 
26 
 
0 
 
21 
 
0 
 
23 
 
6 
 
0 
 
0 
 
10 
 
1 
 
Yard trimmings, when processed properly, have 
 
Beneficial Use 
 
Give away 
 
178 
 
68 
 
159 
 
16 
 
73 
 
0 
 
numerous beneficial uses in a community. The use of 
 
Sell 
 
8 
 
8 
 
11 
 
3 
 
2 
 
0 
 
compost and mulch is extremely beneficial for slowing storm-water runoff and retaining moisture around 
 
Used by local 
 
97 
 
41 
 
48 
 
17 
 
7 
 
0 
 
government 
 
Becomes property of 39 
 
15 
 
39 
 
21 
 
15 
 
0 
 
plants. Many local governments use processed yard 
 
private contractor 
 
trimmings as mulch for their landscaping and civil 
 
engineering applications or report offering the 
 
processed yard trimmings to their citizens for residential landscaping. 
 
C - 5 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 MSW and C&D Landfill Tipping Fees 2008 Solid Waste Management Update 
 
Landfill tipping fees across Georgia remain competitive with other Southeastern states. Posted gate rate tipping fees have steadily risen in recent years, but the increasing amount of waste sent to Georgia for disposal indicates the actual contract prices per ton remain attractive to waste hauling companies, compared with our neighboring states. 
Annually during the month of July, DCA conducts a phone survey of the landfills in the state to identify their posted "gate rate" tipping fee to calculate regional and statewide average disposal fees. Based upon these surveys, the average tipping fee for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the state fell slightly from $35.08 in 2007 to $34.92 in 2008. It should be noted that the fees reported represent an average of the posted gate rates charged by landfills throughout the state; actual prices paid are frequently lower, sometimes by more than half, depending on volume discounts offered to waste haulers, businesses, and local governments. Also, several large Atlanta landfills post high gate rates in an effort to dissuade customers with small loads. 
DCA also tracks tipping fees for Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste. C&D tipping fees rose from a statewide weighted average of $21.11 in 2007 to $23.72. 
2008 Landfill Tipping Fees 
 
MSW 
 
Legend 
$24.00 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 $40.01 - $45.00 $45.01 - $50.00 
 
C&D 
 
Legend 
Data Not Available $14.00- $20.00 $20.01 - $25.00 $25.01 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 
 
D-1 
Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 MSW and C&D Landfill Tipping Fees 2008 Update 
 
Region 
Coosa Valley Georgia Mountains Atlanta Regional Commission Chattahoochee Flint Northeast Georgia Middle Georgia Central Savannah River Area Lower Chattahoochee Heart of Georgia-Altamaha Southwest Georgia South Georgia Coastal Georgia McIntosh Trail Middle Flint North Georgia Southeast Georgia 
State of Georgia 
 
2008 Average MSW 
Tipping Fee $32.50 $37.51 $36.80 $30.00 $36.76 $29.64 $33.44 $27.50 $30.22 $25.62 $41.89 $47.28 $32.01 $35.83 $31.57 $30.51 
$34.92 
 
2007 Average MSW 
Tipping Fee $32.57 $37.20 $38.26 $30.00 $36.69 $27.88 $33.50 $27.50 $30.16 $24.99 $39.04 $47.13 $32.17 $37.58 $31.65 $30.49 
$35.08 
 
2006 Average MSW 
Tipping Fee $32.70 $37.26 $38.40 $31.90 $36.92 $26.01 $33.55 $27.50 $30.19 $24.86 $38.94 $47.13 $32.11 $35.91 $31.65 $30.46 
$35.51 
 
Region 
Coosa Valley Georgia Mountains Atlanta Regional Commission Chattahoochee Flint Northeast Georgia Middle Georgia Central Savannah River Area Lower Chattahoochee Heart of Georgia-Altamaha Southwest Georgia South Georgia Coastal Georgia McIntosh Trail Middle Flint North Georgia* Southeast Georgia 
State of Georgia 
 
2008 Average 
C&D Tipping Fee 
$20.93 $32.29 $18.07 $15.84 $24.74 $16.26 $30.56 $25.50 $26.50 $19.73 $39.50 $30.38 $29.58 $22.50 $25.75 $22.00 
$23.72 
 
2007 Average 
C&D Tipping Fee 
$19.23 $27.28 $22.42 $37.11 $23.37 $15.50 $30.54 $25.50 $25.36 
n/a n/a $21.63 $26.55 $22.50 n/a $22.00 
21.11 
 
2006 Average 
C&D Tipping Fee 
$18.73 $31.20 $21.96 $29.29 $23.31 $16.26 $30.65 $24.38 $25.45 $16.50 $34.38 $14.65 $26.55 22.50 
n/a 25.67 
22.09 
 
D-2 
Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 MSW and C&D Landfill Tipping Fees 2008 Update 
 
MSW 
 
2007 Landfill Tipping Fees C&D 
Legend 
$24.00 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 $40.01 - $45.00 $45.01 - $50.00 
 
Legend 
Data Not Available $14.00- $20.00 $20.01 - $25.00 $25.01 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 
 
MSW 
 
2006 Landfill Tipping Fees 
Legend 
$24.00 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 $40.01 - $45.00 $45.01 - $50.00 
 
C&D 
 
Legend 
Data Not Available $14.00- $20.00 $20.01 - $25.00 $25.01 - $30.00 $30.01 - $35.00 $35.01 - $40.00 
 
Calculating Weighted Average Tipping Fees 
To account for tonnage disparities between large and small landfills, a weighted average tipping fee was used. If out-of-county residents or businesses were charged a higher rate than in-county customers, the higher rate was used. Tipping fees charged for MSW at transfer stations were excluded. When tipping fee rates were reported by volume rather than weight, a ratio of four cubic yards to one ton (4 CY: 1 ton) was used to approximate weight-based rates. Weighted averages were calculated for the area served by each RDC and for the state by multiplying the Average Daily Tons received at each facility (ADT) by the per-ton gate fee, divided by the total ADT for all landfill facilities within each region and within the state. The process was repeated for C&D landfills. To avoid double counting, Average Daily Tonnage was assigned to the MSW column for those facilities charging the same rate for MSW and C&D waste. Most facilities charge the same rate for C&D and MSW received, but a significant number do not. In these cases, the landfills were asked to provide an approximate ratio of MSW to C&D waste received. Weighted averages were calculated using the method described above, with the Average Daily Tons reported split accordingly between MSW and C&D. For facilities that reported receiving no C&D waste, their fees were not used in calculating average C&D fees. 
D-3 
Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 
2008 Solid Waste Management Update 
During Fiscal Year 2008, over 2.9 million dollars ($2,927,020) in Solid Waste Trust Fund (SWTF) receipts were awarded to Georgia communities to help them manage solid waste. By fostering the development of local, integrated solid waste management programs, the SWTF, funded by a $1 per tire fee when new tires are purchased in the state, is used for scrap tire management and cleanup; closure of abandoned landfills, grants to local governments for waste reduction and recycling; emergency, preventative and corrective actions at solid waste facilities, market development from recycled products; solid waste education and enforcement; and litter prevention and abatement. The fund is used to support the Environmental Protection Division's (EPD) Local Government Enforcement and Education Grant program, the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority's (GEFA) Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant program, solid waste programs offered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and other state agencies, and local government programs striving to reduce and manage the solid waste disposed in Georgia. In addition to the programs supported by the SWTF, the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority and Georgia Department of Community Affairs have other grant and loan programs available to local governments to support their solid waste management efforts. 
Environmental Protection Division (EPD) 
EPD's Local Government Enforcement and Education grant program was designed to support local efforts to prevent and enforce against illegal scrap tire and solid waste disposal. The program gives local governments financial incentives to use enforcement and education activities to address: 
1. The management of scrap tires, including preventing the illegal dumping of scrap tires; 
2. Solid waste reduction and the controlling of illegal dumps; and 
3. Other environmental issues. An eligible applicant may be comprised of one or more local governments. Grant funds are available for establishing and maintaining a Local Environmental Compliance Program that uses enforcement, eradication, and education components to meet its program goals. Continued grant funding is not guaranteed from year to year. Renewal requests are based upon need, the performance of the Local Environmental Compliance Program, and the availability of funds. 
Grant information and application material for the Local Government Enforcement and Education program are available on the Environmental Protection Division's web site, www.dnr.state.ga.us under "Environmental" then under "Technical Guidance." Or, contact Winthrop Brown at (404) 362-2537 or email winthrop.brown@dnr.state.ga.us. 
E-1 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
 
EPD disbursed over $118 thousand dollars in Local Government Enforcement and Education grants in FY 2008. The program funded projects in 19 communities, offsetting the local costs to develop and maintain a local code enforcement program to prevent and enforce against the illegal disposal and management of scrap tires and solid waste. Below is a list of communities awarded grants in 2008 and a map of their distribution across the State. 
 
Community City of Chatsworth City of Douglasville City of Eton City of Leary City of Senoia Barrow County Bulloch County 
 
Local Government Enforcement and Education Grant Awards 
 
FY 2008 
 
Amount 
 
Community 
 
Amount 
 
Community 
 
$2,600.00 
 
Chattooga County $4,370.00 
 
Oconee County 
 
$2,250.00 
 
Decatur County 
 
$31,257.50 
 
Pulaski County 
 
$1,300.00 $10,117.50 $1,350.00 $4,700.00 $8,181.00 
 
Dodge County Evans County Gilmer County Hart County Jackson County 
 
$5,000.00 $5,743.28 $4,904.50 $9,817.03 $5,605.26 
 
Rockdale County Seminole County Union County 
TOTAL 
 
Amount $3,914.25 $1,464.00 
$1,130.25 $10,387.30 44,285.56 
$118,377.43 
 
Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) 
GEFA annually administers a program funded by the SWTF that is intended to help local governments foster an integrated approach to solid waste management by supporting waste reduction, recycling, and composting programs. Grants of up to $50,000 are available to qualified cities, counties, and solid waste authorities. Demonstration projects or projects implementing an integrated solid waste management plan designed to help the state reach its waste reduction goal were eligible to receive grants of up to $200,000. 
Grant applications are typically due in late March and reviewed in mid-April. Awards are typically announced in May. GEFA Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant applications are available by request or can be downloaded from the GEFA Web site at www.gefa.org. Contact GEFA at (404) 584-1000 or visit www.gefa.org to request and application or to obtain more information about GEFA's Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant program. 
GEFA disbursed $241,124.85 in Recycling and Waste Reduction Grants in FY 2008. The program funded projects in 11 local communities, offsetting the local costs of waste reduction and recycling through the purchase of equipment for local government recycling centers and supporting the development of integrated solid waste management plans. A list of communities awarded grants in 2008 and a brief description of their program are included in the table on the following page. 
 
E-2 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
 
Community Athens-Clarke County 
Bacon County Bulloch County 
Decatur County 
Forsyth County 
City of Griffin Solid Waste Department Hart County 
City of Kennesaw 
City of Macon 
City of Tifton 
Rome/Floyd County Recycling Center 
 
Recycling and Waste Reduction Grants 
 
FY 2008 
 
Amount 
 
Description 
 
$16,000.00 
 
Purchase of and associated freight charges for a household hazardous waste storage building to provide area residents with a year-round collection site. 
 
$6,750.00 
 
Purchase of a forklift to serve the recycling needs of the County. 
 
$14,000.00 
 
Purchase of 700 curbside recycling containers which will be loaned to participating communities throughout the region. 
 
$15,490.00 
 
Purchase of a portable recycling trailer to be staged at key retail locations within the County. 
 
$13,500.00 
 
Purchase of 55-gallon recycling containers and one (1) roll-off container to enable the creation of a recycling program for County parks. 
 
$21,000.00 
 
Purchase of twenty-four (24) 6-yard single-stream recycling containers and twelve (12) 4-yard single-stream recycling containers to target the City of Griffin's commercial customers. 
 
$19,068.00 
 
Purchase of four (4) roll-off recycling containers to expand Hart County recycling services to four area schools. 
 
$24,116.85 
 
Purchase of 48-gallon recycling rollout carts to distribute to single family households for the curbside recycling program. 
 
$50,000.00 
 
Purchase of 65-gallon recycling rollout carts to be distributed to residents for a demonstration project to assist the City with solid waste planning. 
 
$19,000.00 
 
Conversion of current open-top roll-off recycling units to compartmentalized, closed-top roll-off units enabling the inclusion of multiple types of plastic. Purchase of additional roll-off containers. 
 
$42,200.00 
 
The purchase of 12'8 and 16'8 storage units, associated freight charges, fencing and gates, and rolling carts for the establishment of a once a month household hazardous waste collection program. 
 
TOTAL 
 
$241,124.85 
 
E-3 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
 
Another financial support program offered by GEFA is their low interest revolving loan program available to local governments. Drawing upon funds from its bond proceeds and revolving loan program, GEFA loaned $4,655,000 to three (3) local jurisdictions in FY 2008. The local jurisdictions and a brief description of the projects are listed in the table below. 
 
Community City of LaGrange 
Middle GA RSWMA (Dooly County, Macon County, and Peach County) Peach County 
TOTAL 
 
Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority 
 
Solid Waste Loans 
 
FY 2008 
 
Amount 
 
Description 
 
$3,000,000 $ 530,000 
 
Construct Cell 4 and Vertical Expansion Construction at the City's Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfill, which will consist of an approximately 7.5 acre composite-lined Subtitle D (MSW) disposal cell and wall. Construct two new cells for disposal of solid waste at its existing landfill. 
 
$1,125,000 $4,655,000 
 
Land acquisition and construction of a methane gas extraction system, engineering and security fencing. 
 
E-4 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) 
In FY 2008, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Environmental Management implemented two (2) recycling infrastructure grants, the Away-from-Home Recycling Grant and the Regional Recycling Hub Grant programs, both of which were supported by Solid Waste Trust Fund dollars. DCA awarded $2,567,518 in FY 2008 to fund these recycling infrastructure grant programs. 
Away-from-Home Recycling The Away-From-Home Recycling grant included $350,000 dollars from the SWTF, a program partner contribution $40,000 Curbside Value Partnership (CVP), and $25,000 in corporate donations from Coca Cola for a total program value of $415,000. The program funded grant projects in 29 communities across the State. 
Strategy Part of instilling a recycling ethic is to provide easy and convenient recycling opportunities both at home and away from home. Georgia is host to many major tourism events which draw large crowds from across the country. From recreational opportunities at our state parks or along our coast, to sporting events, to conferences or community festivals, recycling and litter prevention need to be an integral part of these events. Local governments needed access to specialized containers to collect recyclable materials at special events. The Away-from-Home Recycling program was implemented to establish this recycling ethic through education and promotion. Display of the recycling trailers and use of the ClearStream containers at special events positions grantees to more easily promote litter free events, which exposes over 4.5 million Georgians and visitors to the state to an image of Georgia pride and conservationism. The program facilitates a behavioral change in special event attendees, enabling them to establish a life-long commitment to recycling by making recycling a habit. 
Implementation SWTF dollars allocated to the Away-from-Home grant were used to purchase 35 reusable special event recycling containers and trailers to store and haul the containers, with a retail value of approximately $15,000 per trailer. Each trailer supported a "turn-key" recycling collection infrastructure for special event recycling, which makes recycling at special events easy. This bold initiative for Georgia was the first comprehensive special event recycling collection infrastructure effort in the nation. DCA's Away-from-Home Recycling Grant program is nationally recognized as a model for implementing special event recycling. 
E-5 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
Under the Away-from-Home grant program, local governments offer use of the trailers to event organizers in their community. The grant contract requires awardees to pledge to maintain recycling at future events and to incorporate the state recycling brand into their special event recycling efforts. Grantees are also required to submit an annual report indicating the volume of materials recycled and the number of events that used the containers. Results The bold "Recycle 4 Georgia" image draws attention to recycling at special events and appeals to the general audience. From April through December 2008, the Away-from-Home Recycling program exposed special event recycling to a reported 2.6 million attendees. Local government grant awardees reported collection of 61,153 pounds (30.5 tons) of recyclables during the first nine months of the program's introduction. The trailers and containers were used at 319 events  176 of which were events where recycling was offered for the first time. A list of communities awarded the Away-from-Home Recycling grant in 2008 is included in the table on the following page and shown in the Infrastructure map. 
E-6 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
 
Away-from-Home Recycling Grants 
 
FY 2008 
 
Community 
 
Estimated Retail Value 
 
Albany-Dougherty County 
 
$15,000.00 
 
Athens-Clarke County 
 
$45,000.00 
 
Bulloch County 
 
$30,000.00 
 
Columbia County 
 
$15,000.00 
 
Dalton-Whitfield County 
 
$30,000.00 
 
Decatur County 
 
$15,000.00 
 
DeKalb County 
 
$30,000.00 
 
Forsyth County 
 
$15,000.00 
 
Glynn County 
 
$15,000.00 
 
Gwinnett County 
 
$15,000.00 
 
Hall County 
 
$15,000.00 
 
Liberty County 
 
$15,000.00 
 
Newton County 
 
$15,000.00 
 
North Georgia Resource Management Authority $30,000.00 
 
City of Alpharetta 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Atlanta 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Columbus 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Decatur 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Douglasville 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Gainesville 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Kennesaw 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Monticello 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Newnan 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Norcross 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Rome 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Roswell 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Savannah 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Tifton 
 
$15,000.00 
 
City of Valdosta 
 
$15,000.00 
 
Trailers Awarded 
1 3 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
 
E-7 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
Regional Recycling Hubs The Regional Recycling Hubs grant was funded with $2,217,518 from the SWTF. DCA leveraged additional funding totaling $8,042,950 ($4,938,696 in partner-level support and $3,104,254 local government support) for the Hub program. For every $1 (one dollar) of Solid Waste Trust Fund grant funding, DCA leveraged over $3.60 in partner match dollars from private and local government support. Grants were awarded to four (4) local governments across the State. Strategy This competitive grant program was offered to local governments to either modify their existing recycling operations or construct a new facility to establish a network of regional collection hubs for commingled recyclables throughout the state. This effort also supports rural and small community programs, as each hub serves a 50-75 mile radius, as well as serving as collection points for the recycles collected from special events. Implementation Many of the rural communities throughout Georgia do not generate the volume of recyclables needed to warrant independent collection routes. The collection of commingled recyclables makes it more viable for many communities to sponsor recycling programs. In order to increase collection efficiencies and to minimize transportation costs, this Regional Recycling Hub grant supported the development of the infrastructure needed in the form of regional transfer stations for recyclable materials throughout the State. Expected Results Based on initial tonnage estimates reported by the grantee communities, the Regional Recycling Hub Grant program anticipates a 185% increase in the amount of recovered materials to be collected annually upon implementation of the Hub projects. This calculates to a projected landfill savings of $514,500 per year (based on a $35 per ton average disposal fee). A list of communities awarded the Regional Recycling Hub grant in 2008 is included in the table and shown in the Infrastructure map on the following pages. 
E-8 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
 
Community City of Griffin City of Savannah 
City of Valdosta 
Bulloch County 
TOTAL 
 
Regional Recycling Hubs Grants 
 
Amount $550,000.00 $955,218.00 
$425,000.00 $287,300.00 
$2,217,518.00 
 
FY 2008 
Description Construct a new recycling processing center and purchase the equipment necessary to collect, process, and transport recyclables from communities within a 50 mile radius of the hub. Implement single-stream residential curbside recycling collection in the City. Leverage the development of a privately owned and operated regional recycling hub, promote regional recycling activities, and accept recyclable material within a minimum of a 50 mile radius of the hub. The City shall also implement a recycling marketing strategy as described in the attached Recycling Market Strategy that incorporates the State's recycling campaign. Expand the City's existing recycling processing center infrastructure and convert the facility from a co-mingled processing operation to accept single-stream recyclables to serve as a regional recycling hub, promote regional recycling activities, and accept recyclable material within a minimum of a 75 mile radius of the hub. Modify County's existing recycling center and establish a singlestream recycling processing facility in coastal Georgia (the first single-stream recycling processing facility outside of metro-Atlanta in the state) to serve as a regional recycling hub, promote regional recycling activities, and accept recyclable material within a minimum of a 50 mile radius of the hub. 
 
E-9 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
E-10 Revised July 31, 2009 
 
 Grants and Loans to Local Governments 2008 Update 
DCA also annually administers a Local Development Fund Grant program, a state appropriated grant program that provides matching grants to finance community improvement activities, including solid waste management projects. Grants are typically awarded in maximum amounts of $10,000 for single community projects and $20,000 for multi-community projects. Applications are reviewed based on the following criteria: 
 Feasibility including such factors as reasonableness of budgets and timetables, adequate consideration of all the factors necessary for implementation, commitment from other funding sources, etc. 
 Impact of the project on the community and community need. No Local Development Fund Grant projects were awarded during FY 2008. More information on the Local Development Funds is available on DCA's Web site at www.dca.state.ga.us or contact Cynthia Easley at 404-679-4789 or ceasley@dca.state.ga.us. 
E-11 Revised July 31, 2009