Landfill & Recycling

County Landfill

Habersham County Landfill's goal is to provide environmentally sound, cost-effective waste management to the people of Habersham County. The Department complies with all federal, state, and local ordinances.

The department maintains the following services/facilities:

a lined landfill for disposal of sold / dry waste
processing of white goods (washing machines, stoves, freezers, refrigerators, etc.) after removal of residual freon gas prior to recycling
recycling process for sorting and preparing plastic bottles, metal cans, and glass bottles for market

The Habersham County Landfill can accept everything for disposal except hazardous materials, which include (but are not limited to) the following:

oil and other petroleum products
antifreeze
paint in liquid form (paint that has become a dry solid by being mixed with dirt or sawdust is okay)
batteries (except small batteries, such as those used in flashlights and toys, etc.)

If you are unsure about the landfill's acceptance of a particular item, please be sure to call for further information.

The landfill also provides a convenience center with a series of trailers located below the scale house (but before entering the landfill area itself) for residents who have no more than six bags of household garbage and/or who wish to recycle the items listed below:

plastic (milk jugs, drink bottles)
glass (brown, clear, green)
aluminum cans
cardboard (except wax-covered cardboard)
newspaper and magazines

There is a minimum charge of $15.00 for household garbage. There is no charge for recycling.

The department is operated as an enterprise fund and does not directly include any general tax revenues. All landfill users pay the landfill tipping fees. All vehicles, even those just bringing recycled items, are required to pass over the scale going into and out of the landfill. All loads must be covered to prevent trash and garbage from falling out.

Habersham County does not provide curbside pickup. Contact your city or town hall or an independent contractor to arrange service if available at your address.

Please note that Habersham County Landfill does not accept cars, RV’s, or other vehicles. However, if you are trying to dispose of a vehicle, please contact us at the information shown to the right and we will provide you with some charities that accept vehicle donations.

Recycling

Habersham County operates recycling centers in Clarkesville and Cornelia, and accepts some items at the county landfill in Mt. Airy.

Habersham County recycling centers accept the following items:

Glass: clear, green, brown
Aluminum cans
No. 1 or No. 2 plastic bottles/jugs (look on the bottle or jug for the number inside the recycling triangle)
Paper products such as newspapers, some types of computer paper, magazines, books, shredded paper
Cardboard
Metal and Electronics are no longer accepted at the recycling centers. Please take electronics to the landfill. There is a $15.00 minimum charge then prorated at $55.00 per ton for metal and electronics
Mattresses and box springs are NOT accepted at the recycling centers. Please take those items to the landfill. There is a $10 each fee.

What about other objects -- for example, car batteries, used oil, printer toner cartridges, and plastic bags? Check local and national retailers (auto parts stores, grocery stores, tire shops, and websites of manufacturers) to see what, if anything, they accept for recycling (some may charge a fee). An online search of this subject may also help you find additional information.

Hazardous Waste

Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be "household hazardous waste" or "HHW."

Products such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them. Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash.

The dangers of such disposal methods might not be immediately obvious, but improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health.

The options of reduction, reuse, recycling, and disposal are all important tools to safely manage HHW. The following information can help you determine the best ways to reduce, reuse, or dispose of common household products that may contain hazardous ingredients. Below is a list of HHW with places where they can be recycled and the best way to dispose of the HHW with minimum or no harmful effect to the environment.

Motor Oil: Can be recycled at Auto Zone and Advanced Auto in Cornelia. Both limit customers to five gallons per visit. Check with other auto centers about taking used motor oil.

Antifreeze: Check with local auto centers about taking old antifreeze. Do not pour antifreeze into storm drains or septic tanks. Antifreeze can be fatal to pets.

Auto Batteries: Many stores that sell auto batteries such as Wal-Mart, Auto Zone, and Advanced Auto will accept your used battery and give you a discount on your new battery.

Gasoline: Handle with extreme caution! Try and use all of the gasoline. If gasoline is unusable, mix the liquid with kitty litter, sand, or any other absorbent to solidify the liquid. Place mixture in a sealed container and dispose with trash.

Paints and solvents: Try to use up material but if unusable, contact your local Habitat for Humanity to see if they accept unused paint. If material is not usable and can not be donated, mix the material with kitty litter, sand, or any other absorbent to solidify the liquid. Mix material in original container and dispose with trash.

Household Cleaners, Pesticides and Herbicides: Use the item up before choosing disposal, or check label for proper disposal methods. DO NOT mix cleaners or other chemicals. Doing so could cause health problems.

Styrofoam Egg Cartons: Sharing and Caring, located at 110 Camelot Way in Clarkesville, accepts styrofoam egg cartons for reuse. You can contact them at 706-754-6420.