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1. What items can be recycled?

Recyclable Items 

• Plastic food trays, bottles, jugs, cups and wide mouth containers
• Rigid plastics like toys, buckets, bins, etc.
• Empty aerosol cans with lids removed
• Milk and juice cartons and boxes
• Aluminum cans, foil and trays
• Metal food cans, rinsed
• Glass bottles and jars with lids removed
• Cereal and food boxes, flattened
• Cardboard and pizza boxes, flattened
• Magazines, phone books, catalogs and paperback books
• Mixed paper, paper bags, junk mail and newspapers

Note: Oconee County collection sites collect recyclables in a dual stream system with glass, plastics, steel and aerosol cans co-mingled and paper and cardboard products co-mingled.

Not Accepted for Recycling 

For information on what do with these hard to recycle items, click here.

• Batteries or Light Bulbs
• Ceramics
• Food
• Glassware
• Hardcover Books
• Napkins or Paper Towels
• Oil or Antifreeze Containers
• Paper Plates and Cups
• Plastic Bags
• Plastic Cutlery
• Pots and Pans
• Shredded Paper
• Styrofoam
• Wire Hangers

If you have questions regarding recycling other items, please call 706-310-3560.

2. How much does it cost to recycle?

Recycling is free at the Oconee County Collection Sites. You do not need a pay as you throw bag to recycle!

3. What are Pay as You Throw bags?

The Oconee County Public Works Department through its Sanitation Division offers a very economical way for Oconee Citizens to haul their trash and recyclables at one time to any of the five Solid Waste & Recycling Collection sites throughout the county. Just place all your non-recyclable items into a Pay as You Throw bag (available locally at a nominal fee) and put them in the appropriate bin at the collection site of your choice. The Pay as You Throw bags are currently blue but the color will be changing to maroon later this year.

Pay as You Throw bags can be purchased at the following Oconee County locations:
All county waste collection sites
- AJ’s at Highway 78 & Mars Hill Road
- All Oconee County Golden Pantries
- Bells Food Store at Butler’s Crossing
- Bogart Pantry on Highway 29
- Kroger’s on Epps Bridge Road
- Oconee Fast Mart on Hog Mountain Road
- Publix at Butler’S Crossing
- T’s Corner at Highway 78 & Highway 53

Pay as You Throw Bag Prices:
- 32 Gallon, $3.00
- 20 Gallon, $2.00

4. Who are the members of the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission (KOCBC)?

Members of the commission are Oconee County citizens like you who are appointed by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners to three year terms, people who are interested in keeping our beautiful county clean and in promoting environmentally sound practices to make it even better.

Current Members:
- Christian Cotton
- Ken Morneault
- Mark Hess
- Melissa Steele
- Molly Schaefer
- Steve Wortham

In addition to the commission members, KOCBC offers auxiliary membership that does not require appointment by the BOC, just a willingness to participate in the KOCBC meetings and projects. Please call 706-769-5120 if you interested in becoming a part of this active, friendly, and environmentally minded group.

5. What is the Adopt a Mile program?

The Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission facilitates a local program that pairs up individuals and groups with one mile sections of county roads for regular cleanups.

6. Where can I take my recyclables?

Learn more on our Recyclable Information & Locations page.

7. Are there ways to recycle items the county’s collection sites do not take?

Find out where items not accepted by the county can be taken on our How to Recycle Items the County Doesn't Take page.

8. How can I become a member of the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission?

Learn how to become a member of the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission on our Become a Member page.

9. How can I volunteer to help the Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission?

Find out how to become a volunteer on our Volunteer page.