Columbus suspends recycling, yard waste collection during coronavirus emergency
Starting Monday, Columbus city inmate work crews no longer will collect yard waste and recycling during the COVID-19 emergency, authorities said Friday.
Regular household garbage collection will continue on its regular schedule.
“Effective today, the City of Columbus will no longer be collecting recycling or yard waste until further notice. This is not for forever, but until we are able to ‘flatten the curve’ of this virus,” Mayor Skip Henderson posted to Facebook on Friday morning.
“I understand that recycling is incredibly important to the environment, but our recycling is sorted by hand,” he added. “This requires people to stand shoulder to shoulder at a conveyer belt. As this is against CDC recommendations, we are suspending this service for now.”
Meanwhile, the city is waiving all tipping fees at the Granite Bluff landfill, 7589 River Road, where Columbus residents may bring yard waste such as leaves and limbs. Customers will need to show proof that they live in Columbus.
No city recycling drop off centers will be available, the mayor said.
For more information, residents may call the Citizen Service Center at 311 or at 706-653-4000. The phone number for the Granite Bluff landfill is 706-225-4525.
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 11:33 AM.