Portland, Tennessee Blog

If you have stuff you need to get rid of -- Gallatin Resource Authority will take anything except harzardous waste. You have to pay - but it's really worth it to be able to get rid of stuff. There are dumpsters there for magazines, cans, and newspapers, too.

Down by the police station in Gallatin are dumpsters for newspapers and magazines, too !

Volunteer Recycling takes aluminum cans & they pay by the pound. I'm not sure about plastic. You can call and ask them at 325-2176.

Is there a place to take cans or plastic anywhere close? I have seen a little bitty place in Gallatin somewhere that was (maybe) called Golden Goat..I can not remember what they accept..anyone know?

To the best of my knowledge, Volunteer recycling on morningside drive will take the cardboard! That's where we take all of our fireworks boxes. I don't believe they pay for it, but they WILL accept it! Maybe this will help.
Thanks, Jody

This 3 Star Program is interesting to read about.

I was only right as far as I went.....I didn't understand the points for the different levels.
So..they chose recycling. Hmmm...they need to work on that.

What does the county do with the money that they are awarded for attaining this 3 star status ??
Has Portland received any money from it ?

It seems like a great program, but I wonder how strict they are at monitoring the program and holding to the criteria they have established.

Thanks for explaining that better to me, Charlie.

DeeAnna is correct. Recycling is not a part of getting basic Three-Star status (Level 1). However, to move to Level 2 or Level 3, a community must select a number of additional tasks. Each task, when completed, earns points. Level 1 requires 500 points, level 2 requires 1000 points, and Level 3 requires 1500 points total.

In general, the higher the level a county gets, the more grants it gets from the state.

Sumner County chose recycling as one of its additional tasks. On page 23 of the 2007 Three-Star manual, the requirement is listed as follows:

"4. Litter/Recycling - The following programs must be in place:
a. Roadside litter pickup.
b. Recycling plan (must include program area).
c. Litter education targets:
* Students
* Public
* Media
* Government
* Business
Note: all counties have to do at least 3 of the 5 targets under litter education."

Sumner County was awarded credit for completing this task. My only problem with this entire thing is that we still have no place to recycle much of anything in Sumner County!!

I agree!!! That area in front of the CARES looks terrible! People are not going to stop dumping their things, so there needs to be another game plan for it.

Mischelle, maybe they consider the highway in front of CARES as their active recycling center !

This is an interesting topic !
I just went to the state's website for the 3-star program: www.state.tn.us/ecd/3star_desc.htm.

There are basic requirements and suggested additional activities. One of the suggested items was recycling. Looks likes it is not a requirement in order to get the 3 star status.

Seems the incentives for the 3 star status is to be eligible for state funds or grants for your city and promotion of your city on websites and tourism things, among other things.

Do I have this right ?

I do know that behind City Hall in Gallatin, there is a magazine recycling bin...or used to be a few months ago. I don't remember if there were other categories or not...but maybe there is.

Active recycling program? Where?

My Bro-in-Law just went thru the same thing and found out he would have to go to Two Mile Parkway in Rivergate to the nearest cardboard recycling place. That's sad!