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During the first of several planned community meetings about their takeover of rural sanitation, Martin Environmental Services announced the company plans to accept cardboard recycling at convenience centers.

Starting July 1, most of the convenience centers in Troup County will be closing as the county gets out of the sanitation business due to dramatically rising costs. Martin will be taking over four of the remaining convenience centers to go along with their curbside trash pickup that will start the same day.

Martin is currently in the process of signing up new customers for the switchover for either curbside pickup or a subscription to use the four remaining convenience centers to drop off their garbage. Martin is offering the service at $29.90 per month or $28.50 per month for those who sign up for annual service.

Martin will take over the Knot Road, Hillcrest, Lloyd Tatum and Work Camp convenience centers. Martin subscribers will be able to drop off up to 95 gallons of garbage and 5 cubic yards of bulky waste per week at no additional cost. Non-subscribers will be able to drop off their household garbage for $10 per 95-gallon container or $9 per cubic yard for bulky items.

Martin CEO Brandon Hurst said the convenience centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Friday and Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The sites will be closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Hurst said they plan to put a roll-off bin at each of the convenience centers to accept cardboard for recycling.

“We’re going to deliver it to New Ventures, and they’re going to bail it and sell it. Cardboard is not bringing in a lot of money right now. It might be $25 a ton right now,” Hurst said.

Hurst said the cardboard can be dropped off at no charge. He said they don’t currently have any plans to add other recycling offerings. He said people can still take their recycling to the LaGrange Recycling Center near the mall.

Employees from New Ventures will continue to work at the convenience centers through the non-profit.

Martin said that almost all of their employees will come from Troup County. They said some will likely be promoted from other areas within the company but about 98 percent would be local.

Hurst said they are looking for a permanent site for their main office in Troup County, but they are currently leasing three offices on the third floor of the Troup County Government Center.

Martin is planning a second community meeting on Tuesday, May 23 at the Gray Hill Community Center on Bartley Rd. at 6 p.m. The company is also planning to meet with seniors at the Active Life Center in LaGrange the following day.