Watershed Management Expands Internal Recycling Program

Staff Report

Employees of the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) are working to ensure a cleaner environment under its newly expanded internal recycling program. Last week, 23 96-gallon recycling bins along with nearly 200 smaller deskside and clear-stream bins were delivered to eight additional Watershed Management facilities. Now approximately 730 DWM employees are participating in workplace recycling.

“Through DWM’s internal recycling program, we intend to reduce the amount of waste we are sending to landfills each year,” says Commissioner Jo Ann Macrina. “In keeping with Mayor Kasim Reed’s goal of making Atlanta a top-tier city in sustainability, our recycling program will help to conserve natural resources, save energy and prevent pollution.”

The program includes deskside recycling of paper, plastic and metal as well as communal recycling in all break rooms, kitchens and copy rooms. In addition, the program will track recycled materials to better assess the volume of materials being withheld from landfills.

The Department of Public Works will begin weekly pick-ups on Oct. 1 at the following locations:

· Chattahoochee River Intake & Water Laboratory

· Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant

· Hemphill Water Treatment Plant

· Hemphill Settled Solids Building

· Utoy Water Reclamation Center

· R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center & West Area Combined Sewer Overflow facility

· South River Water Reclamation Center

· Intrenchment Creek Water Reclamation Center & East Area Combined Sewer Overflow facility

Each facility will have “Recycling Champions” who have volunteered to coordinate the program at their location, answering questions and encouraging participation.

Phase II of the expanded program will include DWM’s 14th Street campus and the Englewood facility in southeast Atlanta, adding another 300-400 employees to the Department’s recycling efforts.