Traditionally hosted at Coolray Field each year, Gwinnett County’s annual Earth Day recycling event is making a move from its former digs ahead of the 2026 event. Since Gwinnett County Government and its partners at the Urban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County now own 87.5 acres at the site of Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, the switch to the former Macy’s parking lot will be an easy one for event organizers. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County’s Solid Waste Management will host the 2026 Earth Day Recycling Event there on April 18 from 9 a.m. to noon. But before the big day arrives, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Executive Director Schelly Marlatt has issued a call for volunteers.

“Observed globally, Earth Day is a time when people of all backgrounds and generations are called to stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of the only home we share,” said Marlatt. “What better way to do that locally than through an act of volunteerism? We’re expecting thousands of cars that day, so we’ll need hundreds of volunteers on hand to ensure a smooth experience for our participants. Volunteers will help unload vehicles and organize them in their corresponding stations. While it may not feel as though they’re saving the planet, every item they transfer from our neighbors’ vehicles will be diverted from our local landfills for recycling. During last year’s Earth Day Recycling Event, our volunteers helped us divert over 66 tons of recyclables and 9,700 gallons of paint from Gwinnett County landfills. Combined, that’s more than 73 tons that found new life through recycling rather than taking up space in a landfill – what a cool way to save the planet.”

In addition to the chance to rid their homes of hard-to-recycle items that can’t be collected curbside, attendees of the April 18 Earth Day Recycling Event can enjoy a stroll through an exhibit area where they can visit with a variety of community partners and participate in fun activities such as touch-a-truck, face painting, and more.

Items that will be accepted for recycling at the event include:

Paper for shredding – limited to five copier paper boxes
Electronics – many items are recycled for free except for TVs, monitors, and printers. There will be a $35 cash fee for projectors/console TVs; a $15 cash fee per monitor or regular TV; and a $5 cash fee per printer. Electronics normally recycled include CD/DVD players, cable equipment, cameras/camcorders, cash registers, cellphones, circuit boards, computers, copiers, fax machines, hard drives, keyboards, laptops, mainframes, mice, monitors, POS equipment, printers, scanners, security equipment, servers, speakers, telephone systems, televisions, terminals, typewriters, and VCR players.
Paint – both oil-based and latex paint will be accepted, but is limited to 10 gallons per vehicle. Cans must contain 25% wet paint to be recycled. No rusted cans, please.
Tires – limited to eight tires per vehicle; no dealer tires; tires must be free of rims, water, and mud.

Participants should pack smaller recyclables in disposable boxes and containers, understanding that they will NOT be returned. To volunteer, interested individuals and groups are asked to visit http://www.volunteergwinnnett.net/ to register. To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, its programs, and upcoming events, visit www.GwinnettCB.org.