(TNS) — Residents in Decatur, Athens, Hartselle, Cullman, and Morgan County will face a four to six-week delay in the resumption of recycling collection due to a malfunction at the Decatur Recycling Center. The facility’s baler broke down on February 26, just one day before its warranty expired, prompting a pause in service across the region.
On Monday, the Decatur City Council approved a purchase order for a new Gemini Xtreme manual tie horizontal baler with a 460-volt power pack from Marathon Equipment Co. for $115,337. Landfill Director Wanda Tyler indicated that the new equipment could be shipped as early as Tuesday, with installation expected to take approximately four to six weeks.
Mayor Kent Lawrence stated that the timeline may be subject to change. “We’re hoping for four to six weeks. It could be longer, or it could be shorter. We won’t know until somebody comes in and tells us what it’s going to take to install it,” he said. With recycling being a priority for residents, the hiatus has raised concerns about increased waste in regular trash and lost revenue from recycling operations, which the city relies on.
As the broken baler is repaired under warranty, Tyler noted that having a backup is essential to prevent future disruptions. In a significant shift towards modernization, the council also approved the purchase of two Max-AI AIR autonomous sorting robots from Bulk Handling Systems, totaling $742,272. This new AI system is expected to be operational by June or July, streamlining operations and reducing reliance on manual labor.
The introduction of AI technology will decrease the number of inmates from the Limestone County Correctional Facility employed at the center from 14 to just four, allowing the facility to maintain a leaner workforce while enhancing efficiency. Tyler highlighted the impact of recent labor shortages, including a specific incident where all 14 inmates were removed due to a legal investigation.
The center pays each inmate $20 a day, costing around $4,160 per year per worker. With the AI system projected to yield a conservative return on investment of about $580,000, Tyler believes the improved technology will significantly enhance operational capacity. Last year, the center generated approximately $350,000 through manual sorting, a figure expected to rise with the new systems in place.
Tyler explained that two AI systems will be strategically placed: one at the intake point and the other where high-value commodities are processed. While the AI will automate much of the sorting process, human oversight will still be necessary to handle contaminants such as medical waste and other unwanted materials. “Physically, we have to have a human at the beginning because we get a lot of wish recycling, a lot of medical waste, a lot of trash that shouldn’t be there,” she noted.
Continued advancements in the facility’s operations are reflected in the recent increase in recycling materials. Decatur’s switch to larger 96-gallon recycling carts has resulted in an 8-ton increase in recycling over the past six months. Additionally, Athens increased its recycling truck fleet from four to six this year, highlighting a regional uptick in sustainability efforts.
Looking ahead, Tyler is actively seeking grant funding to assist with the installation and maintenance of the AI sorting technology, which is expected to double the center’s processing capacity from 100,000 tons a year to potentially 500,000 tons, depending on market conditions for recyclable commodities. With a strategic focus on improving efficiency and reducing dependency on external labor sources, the Decatur Recycling Center is poised for a transformative shift in its operations.
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