This seems really complicated….why do we sort our stuff out? Does it really matter?
What is the deal with all the different numbers on plastics? What do they mean?
These are just a few of the questions that continually circle around the Recycling Center and the general conversation about recycling. And it can seem really complicated because, well, parts of it are more nuanced. But that doesn’t mean it is too complicated to have a general knowledge of how the process works. Check out this short video to get an overview on the process.
We’re written about how recycling plastics in our community works before in our Less Waste for the Holidays series. We are fortunate here in Cobb County to be part of the Hefty Renew Program that allows us to reduce the amount of trash that goes to our landfills.
Resin ID Codes
My general challenge with Resin Identification Codes is that they are so small that my aging eyes struggle to read but the do make sense if you know what the numbers mean. Think of a Resin Identification number as an indicator to just how often this is recycled combined with how flexible the plastic is. So your drink bottles (01) and hard clear food packaging isn’t as flexible (if you try and bend it) but the plastic lids to food containers are often very bendable (05.) The Polystyrenes (a.k.a. styrofoam) are for packing and are heat resistant (06.) Check out this chart below to get a full spectrum of the kinds of plastic we generally find on our shelves.
Want to learn more about plastics recycling? Join us on Saturday, March 28th for Spring Clean Up 2026 at Thurman Springs Park. Our very own National Science Honor Society from McEachern High School will be there to provide education and answer questions about plastics and how they are renewed through recycling.
Join us for a morning celebrating “all things sustainability!” Our Community Yard Sale will have you REusing, you can bring your hard to REcycle items for drop off, and our stage demos will educate about REducing your household waste. Here are the highlights of what will be goin on that day at Thurman Springs Park.
Keep Powder Spring’s Beautiful will be hosting its first ever plant sale! We’ll be featuring Purple Coneflowers (our City Flower) as well as other native and drought resistant varieties. Come on by and shop or ask questions to any of our KPSB members.
We’re thankful to Skint Chestnut Brewing Company for once again sponsoring our Community Yard Sale on this day. They’ll be showcasing their new silicon REusable tumblers on that day.
You saw that right – FREE Electronics Recycling Drop off on that day! We’re thankful to Ecycle Atlanta for offering their services on this day. Go to their website for information on their services, dropoff locations and what we will be accepting that day.
We know that paint is one of the top HHW items (Household Hazardous Waste) our community needs to dispose of responsibly. Keep Powder Springs Beautiful is sponsoring this FREE drop off for our residents at 5 gallons per household or 2 quarts per household or 2 spray cans per household. Come to drop off some paint and learn about Atlanta Paint Disposal’s at home pick up program!
Did you know that reusing, consignment, and thrifting are ALL sustainability practices? Join us at a UpCycled Fashion Show sponsored by our very own #handmeups in downtown Powder Springs.
Keeping Powder Springs beautiful includes thinking about how our practices affect our rivers and streams. Join us at Spring Clean Up 2026 to learn more from #cobbwatersystem about how to protect our stormwater system.
When cleaning out a closet recently, I was stunned by the amount of cables, old cell phones, lithium batteries (hard pack) and other e-waste I found. “E-waste” is the industry shorthand for electonic waste. And, boy, are we creating it all around the world?
Global e-waste reached a record 62 million tons in 2022, a figure expected to rise to 82 million tons by 2030. Only 22.3% of this waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022, creating massive environmental and health hazards. E-waste is the world’s fastest-growing waste stream, increasing five times faster than documented recycling efforts. – World Health Organization
We are happy to partner with Ecycle Atlanta at our Spring Clean Up 2026 at Thurman Springs Park to help our citizens dispose of their old equipment responsibly. This FREE drop off day allows you to bring all of your old electronics for free and safe disposal. All items will be sorted, dismantled, and checked for any data holding devices including, but not limited to hard drive, floppy disks, data tapes, cds, usb thumb drives, tablets, and cell phones.
All data holding media will then be segregated for secure destruction. Hard drives do not need to pulled from computers in advance of pick up or drop off unless required by a customer. You can learn more about the security measures and processes they follow at Ecycle Atlanta.
Have you recently finished a home improvement project and now you’re wondering what do to with leftover paint? You aren’t alone! One of the most frequently asked questions regarding hard to recycle materials involves paint. Here are a few of the main issues and FAQs:
What makes paint hard to recycle?
Paint is difficult to recycle due to its complex, varied chemical composition (latex vs. oil-based), toxicity, and high processing costs. Liquid paint is considered hazardous waste that requires special handling, while oil-based products are flammable. Additionally, there is limited infrastructure and market demand for recycled paint. Read more about Hard to Recycle Materials here.
What can I do with my old paint?
The good news is, paint can be recycled – it just takes a little more intentionality. As a matter of fact we have a great resource right in our backyard that will come to your door and take your paint for a fee. If you haven’t heard about Atlanta Paint Disposal, read more about their services here.
I’m also happy to report that paint can be dropped off for a fee at our neighboring Smyrna Recycling Center at 3475 Lake Drive in Smyrna.
But wait…there is MORE…
Spring Clean Up 2026 – March 28, 2026
While we do not currently take paint at our recycling center, we are sponsoring a FREE paint disposal event for the first 85 gallons that arrive at our Spring Clean Up on Saturday, March 26th at Thurman Springs Park. Here a few more details about the event:
Paint Recycling will begin at 8am. No appointment needed. We will only accept the first 85 gallons brought on this day.
We will conclude our Paint Drop Off when we have reached capacity. Paint left onsite will be considered illegal dumping and subject to applicable fines by city ordinance.
LIMIT PER HOUSEHOLD: In order to serve as many households as possible here are our household limits:
One 5 gallon bucket OR
Five 1 gallon buckets OR
8 spray cans/quarts
NOT ACCEPTED:
Leaking containers
“Professional Use Only”
tank/pipe coating
marine coating
lacquer
lacquer thinner
roof tar
two part epoxy
anything that says catalyst
PART A or PART B
55 gallon drums
lead paint
paint with mercury
leaking containers
gasoline
cleaners or chemicals
It our hope that our Spring Clean Up Event will not only introduce you to resources for paint recycling and disposal, but that this will also help us understand the need our community has for this service. See you on March 28, 2026.
Proper medication disposal is essential to prevent environmental contamination of water sources, reduce the risk of accidental poisoning in children and pets, and curb prescription drug abuse. Using dedicated, secure drop-off locations ensures hazardous, unused, or expired medications are destroyed safely, keeping communities safe and compliant with regulations.
Why Proper Medication Disposal Matters:
Environmental Protection: Flushing medication can contaminate lakes, streams, and groundwater, harming wildlife and ecosystems.
Safety & Prevention: Disposal prevents accidental ingestion by children or pets and reduces the risk of misuse or illegal access to medication.
Secure Destruction: Utilizing drug drop-off kiosks at pharmacies like Walgreens or local law enforcement sites ensures that substances are handled properly, not just thrown in the trash.
Where to Dispose of Medication in/near Powder Springs:
Pharmacy Kiosks: Walgreens and other local pharmacies offer secure, year-round kiosks.
Law Enforcement: Sheriff’s and police departments in Cobb County provide secure, 24/7 drop-off locations. You can find one such drop off at Powder Springs Police Department at 1114 Richard Sailors Parkway, just inside the lobby doors.
Take-Back Days:Keep Cobb Beautiful organizes specific medication take-back events.
Alternative Disposal: If no take-back program is available, mix medicines with an unappealing substance (dirt, cat litter) and throw them in the trash after removing personal information.
It’s time to fill in your 2026 calendars with all the dates you don’t want to miss for events related to sustainability and beautification here in Powder Springs! Keep Powder Springs Beautiful is committed to helping you find the resources you need in and around Cobb County. Here is a short list of what we know if on our calendar so far:
Winter Break Birding Program – February 19th
This multi-age, intergenerational program is designed for families and friends to share the love of birding together. Come together to learn about the Great Backyard Bird Count and how you can participate. Participants will practice bird identification through photos, calls, and on-site observation. We’ll make bird feeders for participants to take home, and learn about what native plants attract the birds you love. Register for this free event here.
Spring Clean Up – March 28th
Join us for a celebrating “all things sustainability” in Powder Springs. We’ll highlight all the Rs on this day with vendors, stage demonstrations, a community yard sale, and recycling drop off. Learn more about partners in our Cobb community who provide environmental services and education. Learn more about the Yard Sale participation, recycling drop off, the plant sale and more here.
Outdoor Adventure Days – April 9th & 10th
Looking for a fun, community centered activity for kids during Spring Break? Let them celebrate school break in the great outdoors right here in Powder Springs! Sessions include nature-based play with a blend of outdoor and indoor elements. Full day and half day options available; ages 6-12. Register your child here.
Pick It Up! Powder Springs – April 25th
Join us for a morning dedicated to cleaning up our community one street at a time. Come as a team, business or as an individual to help us keep Powder Springs beautiful! Register to volunteer here.
Shred Day – May 9th
Protect against identity theft and reduce waste by having documents shredded securely on-site by a licensed, bonded and locally-owned shredding company. Medical bills, bank and credit card statements, checks, and documents that contain personal or sensitive information. Please remove all paper clips and binder clips. Limit of 10 banker boxes or ten 13 gallon trash bags per vehicle. NO file folders, glossy paper, magazines, junk mail, periodicals, newspaper, CDs, DVDs, binders or books will be shredded. Free to community. Learn more or volunteer here.
Stay in touch with us by following this blog. We’ll continue to post information about event details and added programs for our community.
This is a true story. It really happened and continues happening to this day right here in Powder Springs, Georgia. It is a story about global trade, and it is a story about problem solving. But most of all, it is a story about a community coming together for the greater good.
Our story begins on a cold February day in 2017. Around 2am, while the residents of our community were tucked warm in their beds, all the way across the globe China would institute a series of policies with consequences every member of Powder Springs would feel. What would become known as the “National Sword” is a series of trash ban policies that have restricted the amount of solid waste that China allows to be imported into their country.[1]
Why would a policy on the other side of the world impact our Powder Springs community you might ask? Well, the answer is simple – China had been the buyer for all our recycling. They were the exclusive market for the unwanted trash of not only the U.S., but also Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany. And when they suddenly not only didn’t want it but wouldn’t allow it, our entire recycling industry changed overnight. The ban has had several consequences:
Global impact: The ban has affected recycling industries worldwide, because China was the world’s largest importer of waste plastics and other recyclable materials.
Local impact: Some cities have been able to find new markets or improve their recycling operations, while others have had to make changes, such as dropping some materials from their recycling program.
Now honestly, our cozy little community did not feel the impacts of these policies immediately. But in 2022, when our contracts for curbside recycling came up for renewal the reality of these policies hit hard. The cost to continue curbside recycling service was going to more than double – and we were not alone in our dilemma. Like many other municipalities in the U.S., we were forced to decide how we would manage the new costs of recycling.
In the U.S., small town and rural recycling operations have been hit the hardest. While most continue to operate, rising costs and falling incomes are forcing some, like Kingsport, Tennessee to shut down. Others, like Phenix City, Alabama, have stopped accepting all plastics. Places like Deltona, Florida suspended curbside pickup. Residents in municipalities like these now must travel to collection points in sometimes distant locations if they want to recycle. Some are inevitably tossing their recyclables in the trash instead
Continue to provide recycling to citizens of Powder Springs
Allow citizens to participate by their own preference and at their own pace
Persist in diverting waste from landfills – which in turn saves $50 per ton dumped
Do all of this by utilizing grant funds at a cost savings to residents
Because starting this center was a problem-solving strategy, we needed the solution immediately. So, we applied for a grant from Georgia Department of Natural Resources and were one of the first municipalities awarded these funds. We took what had been a patch of ground to a functioning Recycling Drop-Off Center in a matter of months – a miraculous enterprise! But we also tried to leave ourselves room to learn and grow. And we have learned quite a bit about the recycling industry and what our city needs. Here is what we have learned:
Powder Springs believes in recycling! We average between 100-180 vehicles per weekend.
We can make a significant impact in the number of materials sent to already overburdened landfill sites.
By making small improvements along the way to our processes, we could offer our citizens a service at a reasonable cost and defray the expense through the sale of our recycled materials.
So, if you remember from our earlier figure of it costing $50 for every ton tipped into the landfill, not only did we save landfill space, but we also experienced cost savings to the city of over $3200. This will continue to be critical to our citizens as we have no open landfills in Cobb County. The markets for places to send our trash are competitive and getting more so every year. We can anticipate the costs of these “tipping fees” to go up as we search for places further afield to send our trash, possibly even out of state. Finding ways to solve this problem now will save us headaches down the road.
We want this project to help sustain what we believe is a really great way of life we have here in Powder Springs. By gathering our recycled materials ourselves, sorting them at our facility and then selling them at the best price we can find, we are choosing to fight the rising costs in this market on behalf of our citizens. If you’ve been to our site, you’ll note that it doesn’t look sleek or polished – this is a grassroots effort. It is one small city coming together to refuse to let global trends and big business take them down. It is a community deciding to ban together to say, “We can make a difference, and we will.”
I’m a proud citizen of Powder Springs. I am also honored to have been tasked with the management of our Recycling Center as a city staff person. If you haven’t been out to our facility at 3006 Spring Industrial Drive yet, come by and see us. You’ll meet some of the friendliest and most helpful people in our city. They’ll teach you all about sorting your items and assist you in every way they can. Many of our regular visitors can’t say enough about this awesome group of employees. We’d love it if you became one of our regulars if you aren’t already.
Looking to get inspired for your new year’s resolutions? Why not try an “eco-resolution” this year? Not only is this a great habit to keep your household moving toward waste reduction, it is also a kind way to ease your way into new recycling habits. By starting with one small, managable goal each year, you can gradually incorporate waste reduction habits with much less stress than trying to begin everything at once. Here are a few simple ideas to get you started:
Cloth Napkins: We began using cloth napkins in place of paper towels or napkins at meal times a few years ago. These have greatly reduced our after meal waste.
Reusable Wipes: These have been a lifesaver in my kitchen!! (Especially during Covid when disinfectant wipes were hard to come by.) Plus, I think they work better than the store bought one-use kind. You can find the “recipe” for these here.
One New Thing: Maybe you can select just one material to focus on recycling this year. For example, you may decide that your household will focus on glass. See below all the glass we accept at Powder Springs Recycling Center.
Mark your calendars for our first sustainability event, Spring Clean Up on Saturday, March 28th at Thurman Springs Park. Not only will we have our community yard sale and KPSB Plant Sale, we will also have demonstrations from the stage on composting, hard to recycle items, stormwater renewal and more.
The holidays are winding down and it is almost time to think about “restoring order” to our homes by taking down those holiday decorations. If you need assistance disposing of that live tree, Keep Powder Springs Beautiful can help!
When you purchase a live tree, you make a conscious choice to improve the environment. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, nearly 350 million Christmas trees currently grow on U.S. farms, absorbing carbon dioxide, emitting fresh oxygen, stabilizing soil, protecting water supplies, and providing refuge for wildlife. For each tree harvested, one to three seedlings are planted in its place—that makes them a renewable resource. Dropping it off with us after the holidays is the logical next step! We’ll transform it into mulch, fuel, or fish habitats. We like to call this the act of ‘treecycling’. – Keep Georgia Beautiful
Enter Bring One for the Chipper! Each year Keep America Beautiful affiliates nationwide sponsor dropp off locations on the first Saturday of the new year. Our Keep Powder Springs Beautiful location is at our Home Depot located at 1062 Richard Sailors Pkwy. We will be set up in the southeast corner of the parking lot (closest to Walgreens) on Saturday, January 3rd from 10am to 2pm. It is as simple as pulling up in the lane and allowing one of our friendly volunteers to assist you in removing your tree from your vehicle.
Please remember…
Bring One for the Chipper is for live trees only.
Not accepted at the event: artificial tree, trees with lights or ornament, flocked tree, garland or wreaths (the wire make them ineligible for chipping).
Christmas trees may be dropped off during the week before the event. Help unloading trees and free seedlings will only be available during the date and time listed above.
Holiday lights are accepted for recycling during the event time.
The event is open to everyone and is free.
Tree seedlings available for participants while supplies last
Joining us this year, our friends from Charleston Coffee Roasters will be on-hand serving coffee to volunteers and participants. We are thankful for their partnership in keeping Powder Springs beautiful at Bring One for the Chipper 2026!! Hope to see you there.
If I am looking for a little bit of sunshine on the weekends, I look no further than a quick trop to Powder Springs Recycling Center. Generally, you’ll just find a bunch of citizens joining together in a grassroots effort to reduce the amount of materials that go into our local landfills.
Did you know there are no open landfills in Cobb County?
But as we enter the winter months, we have noticed a trend. As the weather gets cold (and often rainy) our traffic slows at the center. So during January and February our hours change to reflect our community’s needs.
We are really proud of our Recycling Center and our staff – especially our “average dwell time” of 7 minutes. So in an effort to keep our service speedy and efficient, we will utilize additional staffing for Saturdays, since it will be our only day of operation during January and February.
So come on out to Powder Springs Recycling Center this winter, but plan your trips for Saturdays between 10am and 5pm. We’ll reopen to include Sundays in our hours in March.
keeppowderspringsbeautiful.org 