EPA awards Georgia DCA for recycling hub program

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Office of Environmental Management the “2009 Resource Conservation Challenge National Achievement Award.” The award recognizes DCA’s innovative statewide recycling infrastructure initiative, known as the Georgia Regional Recycling Transfer Hub Program.

DCA was selected and applauded for its Recycling Hub infrastructure that is facilitating cost-effective single-stream recycling collection in rural parts of the state.

“EPA nominated DCA for this prestigious award for two reasons. The Hub concept is the first of its kind in the nation, with the ability to be replicated nationwide. Second, the very concept allows for ‘economies of scale’ to provide cost-effective access to recycling for all citizens, whether they live in an urban or rural community,” said acting regional administrator Stanley A. Meiburg.

Implementation of the regional Hubs offers residential recycling collection to communities in which no previous recycling programs existed, adding even greater convenience for residents and further decreasing the amount of valuable materials wasted every day in Georgia.

“Approximately 170 Georgia cities will now have access to central recycling collection facilities. These facilities will provide much-needed infrastructure to collect and transport recyclable materials, making local programs more cost-effective and ultimately more sustainable,” added Randy Hartmann, director of the Office of Environmental Management for DCA, who was on hand to accept the award. “Efficient collection, sorting, processing and shipping of recyclables within the state keep programs viable and keep materials in Georgia, and these materials go directly back to Georgia’s industries.”

The award also recognizes DCA’s focus on partnerships as a fundamental component of the Hub program. Private partnerships with the Curbside Value Partnership (CVP), Pratt Industries and SP Recycling support DCA’s efforts to increase participation in residential curbside recycling programs and to measure the growth of the Hub program.