Recycling

City Recycling Services and Locations

The City of Tybee Island offers a voluntary recycling drop-off program with designated locations for residents to recycle various materials. These locations include Memorial Park, the west side of Polk Street, and the Department of Public Works (DPW) facility. 

The City is currently accepting the following recyclable materials at all locations:

• Plastics #1 and #2
• Aluminum cans and bottles
• Tin Cans
• Cardboard
• Mixed paper – office, newspaper, and magazines

The City is currently accepting the following recyclable materials at the DPW facility:

• Glass

Hard to Recycle Center (H2RC): Operated by Tybee Clean Beach at the old school/YMCA complex for materials not accepted in the city's program. 

Chatham County Recycles: Operated by Chatham County  (1321 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah GA 31406), this site accepts cardboard, paper, plastics, scrap metal, electronics, motor and cooking oils.

City Recycling Locations

Please separate recyclables and put them in the appropriate, separate containers. In addition, please breakdown cardboard prior to putting it into the containers to allow more material to fit.

• Memorial Park and Polk Street: Recycling trailers are available 24 hours a day.
  • The recycling trailers each have four compartments to separate your recyclables. Plastics #1 and #2 will go in one compartment; aluminum and tin cans will go in one compartment; mixed paper in one compartment; and cardboard in the last compartment. Please put the appropriate materials in the designated compartment.
• Department of Public Works (DPW) Facility (76 Polk Street): Open weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and weekends 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  • At the DPW facility, there are separate dumpsters for cardboard, plastics, aluminum and tin, and a separate smaller dumpster for mixed paper. Staff will direct you to the appropriate bins. The DPW facility also accepts white goods (large metal appliances) for a fee.

Commercial Curbside Aluminum Recycling Program

Tybee Island is running a free, commercial, curbside aluminum recycling program. The program aims to reduce waste, conserve resources, and positively impact Tybee Island's sustainability efforts. The program, which is being offered to restaurants, bars, hotels, and shops, provides weekly Monday pickups of aluminum for recycling. Businesses may sign up by contacting Patricia Sinel at patricia.sinel@cityoftybee.gov or 912-472-5031.

Residential Curbside Recycling

Recycling is a cornerstone of environmental stewardship, and its effectiveness hinges on widespread participation. With the ever-expanding range of recyclable products, it's a reasonable expectation that recycling bins could, and ideally should, fill faster than traditional trash cans.

Here's a breakdown of commonly recyclable materials and those requiring special handling:

Everyday Recyclables:

• Paper: This includes newspapers, magazines, junk mail, office paper, and more.
• Cardboard: Corrugated cardboard boxes (like shipping boxes) and paperboard (like cereal boxes) are widely accepted.
• Metal: Aluminum cans, steel cans, and other metal containers are valuable recyclables.
• Plastics with Recycling Code Symbols (1-7): Many plastic containers, bottles, and jugs are recyclable if they bear one of the seven standardized recycling symbols (usually a chasing arrows triangle with a number inside).

Special Care Recyclables (Require separate disposal and cannot be mixed with regular recycling):

• Electronics (E-waste): Items like computers, televisions, cell phones, and other electronic devices contain valuable materials but also hazardous components. They are typically collected on designated "e-cycle days" at participating locations. Residents should stay informed about future e-cycle dates announced by city staff or recycling centers.
• Ink Cartridges: These often contain residual ink and plastic that require specialized processing. Many manufacturers offer mail-back programs, and some local government facilities, like City Hall's IT Department, may accept them for proper recycling or refilling.
• Food Waste: While not typically placed in curbside recycling bins, food scraps are highly recyclable through composting. Composting food waste diverts it from landfills, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and creates nutrient-rich fertilizer beneficial for gardens and landscaping.