Recycling Center

The City of Gainesville, General Services Department, Solid Waste Division has a Recycling Center located 601 North Interstate 35. The recycling center has been re-designed to better assist citizens in utilizing the facility. The recycling center is located just on the north side of the scale house. The recycling center is free to residents with an active water account. When entering the Transfer Station Scalehouse the resident must present a copy of their active water bill or their state issued ID with the resident address.

**County residents are welcome to use the recycling center. A fee of $20.05 (includes sales tax) will be charged for all size loads.**

Help keep Gainesville beautiful. Each container is painted a different color to help place recyclables in the proper place. The recycling center is free to city residents and will accept the following items: Cardboard, newspapers, magazines, and empty cardboard food boxes.

Acceptable items No presorting necessary!

The brown container is for cardboard (flattened), cereal boxes, and cracker boxes, etc.

At this time we do not have recycling containers for glass, plastic, or aluminum.

Items Not Accepted

Plastic bags
Food-soiled paper products of pizza boxes
Kitchen waste, yard waste or trash
Batteries of any kind
Hardback books
Household hazardous waste or toxic containers
Plastic takeout containers or utensils
Styrofoam
Scrap aluminum or foil
GLASS OF ANY TYPE EFFECTIVE 3/15/2018

Composting Tips

Mowing the lawn and cleaning up the yard is a weekend past time. What should you do with all those grass clippings and leaves? Simple- the best solution is home composting.

Why should you compost at home? – When you put your grass clippings and leaves at the curb, you are giving away a valuable resource. Compost is a natural fertilizer and the process is quick, easy and cost effective. Compost helps plants growth by loosening the soil and improving moisture retention. It also reduces your water bill.

There is a significant cost associated with the collection and composting of yard waste. By home composting you can save yourself money on lawn supplements.

How to Compost:

1. Choose a level spot about three feet square directly out of the sun.

2. Obtain a long-handled pitchfork for turning the compost.

3. Get a 5-gallon bucket for carrying water and compost materials, or use a water hose and wheelbarrow.

4. Compost may be started any time of the year.

5. Put layer of sticks, small brush, and large pieces of bark on the bottom, food scraps, and wet paper towels, depending on ability of materials. Create a way for water to drain and air to circulate.

6. Mix your yard waste and lay a one to two-inch layer on top of the bottom layer. (The smaller the waste is chopped up, the faster it will break down into compost).

7. Cover yard waste with one-inch layer of soil.

8. After the first week, use a yard rake and turn the pile weekly. Keep the compost moist by misting. Odors can occur if the compost is not well ventilated or if there is too much moisture. Crushed limestone can be used to help eliminate odors.

9. Reload your bins as additional material become available. Stockpile leaves to add to your pile as needed to keep the bin full. When a bin is full, don’t continue to add materials.

Compost is “done” when it is crumbly not sticky, dark in color but not black, and smells earthy but not rotten.

Hours of Operation

Monday thru Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
(CLOSED on Saturday from mid January to mid April)
Sunday - CLOSED

Recycling Center