A recent 33-page audit has uncovered critical areas for improvement within Atlanta’s recycling program, with recommendations aimed at enhancing data tracking, increasing recycling rates, and enforcing existing recycling ordinances.
The main objective of this audit is to evaluate the city’s effectiveness in diverting waste through its recycling initiatives while identifying barriers that hinder participation.
Experts emphasize that recycling is essential for preventing reusable materials from ending up in landfills and waterways.
Moreover, reusing materials plays a significant role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, which are a primary contributor to global warming.
As part of its curbside collection service, Atlanta operates on a weekly schedule for collecting recyclables.
From September 2024 to January 2025, the city reported a total recycling tonnage of 6,610 tons, in stark contrast to garbage tonnage of 22,565 tons, resulting in a recycling rate of approximately 23%.
Since Atlanta implemented initiatives to boost recycling efforts in 2017, it has seen significant improvements, with rates more than doubling over the years.
Despite this progress, recycling participation remains inconsistent across various neighborhoods.
Notably, the area with the highest participation, Service Area 5—which includes Buckhead and north Atlanta—manages to recycle only about a quarter of its waste, falling short of the national average.
Other parts of Atlanta see recycling rates ranging from 15% to 21%, with the southwest and west areas lagging the most.
The city’s recycling program operates on a single-stream basis, allowing residents to place all recyclables into one bin, rather than separating them by type.
In a unique move for the metro area, Atlanta includes glass in its recycling program, although glass processing becomes a more expensive venture.
The report suggests that the city reassess the economic feasibility of including glass in the recycling plan during its next waste management review.
All single-family residential property owners, including those in condominiums, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, or apartment buildings, are charged recycling fees, regardless of actual participation in the program.
Educating residents about this fact and the benefits of recycling could potentially boost participation rates, according to the audit.
To improve recycling rates further, the report recommends the establishment of a specific waste diversion goal for curbside collection, something that has yet to be set by the city.
The audit points out significant issues related to data collection, management, and consistency.
The city’s tracking system, Rubicon, has shown inaccuracies in tonnage, while discrepancies between invoices and tonnage records have led to overpayments to Pratt Industries, the city’s partner in recycling operations.
For instance, during one week in December 2024, Rubicon recorded 54 fewer tons than what was indicated on collected tickets from pickup routes.
The audit proposes the development of improved procedures for data recording, quality control measures to maintain data accuracy, and a reconciliation process for aligning data with invoices.
By maintaining accurate data, the city will not only address the overpayment issues but will also track progress towards a potential waste diversion goal, thereby gaining a better understanding of citywide participation levels.
Another critical issue identified in the audit is the lack of enforcement of the multifamily recycling ordinance, which mandates property owners of buildings with six or more units to provide recycling services to tenants and submit annual recycling tonnage reports to the city.
Currently, neither the Department of Public Works nor the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience is monitoring the required tonnage reports from property owners.
The audit criticizes the reporting portal, linking it to an under-monitored email with vague automated replies.
Department leadership acknowledged the need for an enforcement plan, which would necessitate additional funding, staffing, and collaboration with other city departments.
As a remedy, the audit suggests appointing a monitor for the portal, implementing report confirmation receipts, and conducting periodic inspections to ensure compliance among property owners.
In response to the audit findings, the Department of Public Works agreed with all recommendations, indicating that actions are already in progress and expected to be implemented by the end of this year.
Requests for comments from the Department of Public Works and the city of Atlanta Office of Communications regarding the audit have not been met.
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