Roswell recycling staff explain how materials are processed and how residents can help

On the city podcast Inside Roswell, Mayor Mary Robisho interviewed Justin Paulis, public works crew supervisor at the Roswell Recycling Center, about how the center processes recyclables and what residents should drop off versus put in curbside bins.

Paulis, who oversees volunteers and staff at the center, said the facility acts as a central sorting point for paper, plastics, metals and glass so residents do not need to visit multiple specialized locations. "We are in its simplest terms the middleman for collecting materials, papers, plastics, metals and glass," he said.

Why it matters: contamination at curbside can render an entire load unusable, increasing landfill waste and raising processing costs. Paulis emphasized that certain items — notably plastic bags — should not go in curbside bins because they can jam sorting machines; instead, he urged residents to bring bags to the drop-off center. "We can take them, we love them," he said of plastic bags, adding that curbside facilities generally do not accept them because "those bags get caught in those machines."

The center ships large quantities of material. "Cardboard's probably our biggest. We ship out about 44,000 lbs of cardboard a month," Paulis said, noting cardboard is compressed and stored until shipments are economical. Common plastics such as bottles, milk jugs and cleaning containers arrive quickly but are often stored compressed until there is sufficient volume to ship.

Paulis also confirmed the center accepts polystyrene packing foam (the small white beads from coolers and packing material), a point that surprised the host. He warned, however, that not all Styrofoam-like items are accepted at the center — some specific foam products and certain egg-carton materials are handled by other local drop-off sites.

The center occasionally receives unusual donations: Paulis recalled a four-and-a-half-foot steel decorative suit of armor and a retired mechanic who spent months stripping a car of recyclable parts and bringing fenders, an engine block and springs to the center. While the center cannot process an entire vehicle, Paulis said staff can refer residents to specialized facilities for heavy metal recycling.

On end uses, Paulis said many plastics are remade into bottles or clothing and that some recycled plastics are used in durable products such as plastic decking. "Plastic decking... has an amazing shelf life of like 70 years," he said.

Paulis encouraged simple household practices to reduce contamination: rinse containers lightly, avoid placing prohibited items (for example, herbicide or pesticide containers) into recycling, and call the center when unsure. He offered the center as a resource: "If you've got a curiosity about that, give us a call. We're happy to walk through any particular item someone may have."

The city will also staff additional recycling stations at the Alive and Roswell event on April 16 in partnership with Keep Roswell Beautiful; Paulis said volunteers will help prevent cross-contamination at busy collection points and that the city will collect aluminum at vendor areas.

Paulis closed by stressing incremental action: "Everything we take in is one less thing that's going to get thrown away, and if everybody chips in a little on that, it compounds in an amazing amount." Mayor Robisho thanked him for the behind-the-scenes look and urged listeners to follow the podcast for additional Earth Month episodes.

Closing note: For questions about specific items or to confirm acceptance, residents were directed to contact the Roswell Recycling Center.