DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A recent audit of DeKalb County’s sanitation system revealed sanitation workers are mixing trash with other materials, making recyclables useless.
The findings have caused county officials to increase trash monitoring.
One key issue uncovered is that sanitation crews sometimes mix cardboard with other materials. The audit revealed the need to discard contaminated materials, which increases costs.
“Instead of receiving revenue, the county is currently paying a recycling processing fee for the extra weight of the cardboard mixed in by the county,” the report stated.
Cardboard mixing cost the county over $170,000.
The audit examined sanitation practices between January 2021 and July 2024. DeKalb County officials said in a statement that the audit period included three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, where the department suffered from employee absences.
The report highlighted a 31% average contamination rate—the mixing of recyclables with non-recyclables—which spiked to 38% in July. While a zero contamination rate is unrealistic, the auditor stressed that the current percentage is slightly higher than acceptable standards.
DeKalb County resident “Uschi” Bulger expressed frustration over the findings.
“I’ve always recycled my entire life,” she said. “They’re letting us separate it here and then put it back together in one? Oh, that’s despicable,” Bulger said.
The audit also found that residents contributed to the problem. Bulger added the county must do more to educate residents about proper recycling practices to reduce contamination.
It recommended starting monthly reviews and expanding oversight to hold workers accountable. It also suggested adding cameras to monitor sanitation crews and exploring new technology that allows residents to report improper material mixing incidents.
In a statement, DeKalb County’s Sanitation Department said it had already improved processes before the audit, including reducing trash mixing, improving recycling audit accountability, and updating reports.
Besides monthly audits, the county plans to review its contract with Pratt Industries, the third-party vendor responsible for recycling services, and provide findings within 90 days.
Bulger emphasized the importance of improving the system, warning of long-term consequences.
“This is our future. I mean, how much do we want to fill up the land with garbage?”