The City of Atmore is still in the process of selecting a new partner in their continued effort to provide residents with a recycling location in town, but a special drive held Saturday to bridge the gap in service was well received city representative Celia Lambert said.

“I would say we had between 72 and 75 recyclers,” Lambert said. “We had 75 different cars that unloaded plastics, paper and cardboard. We also had several  businesses that came. I feel like we’re making progress.”

The city has been without its recycling location at the Atmore Farmer’s Market, where recycling bins once stood, since early June after Mayor Jim Staff said the program in place was not effective or cost efficient.

Saturday’s drive likely helped curb any build up of recyclable materials that would have otherwise accumulated in the absence of the bins, Lambert said.
“We filled the back of a semi-truck about two thirds of the way full,” Lambert said. “I was really proud of that.”

Lambert said eight new recycling bins are currently being labeled and placed at the Farmer’s Market location, but added no new information concerning a new permanent partner for the city’s efforts has been finalized.