DAPHNE, Ala. — The city of Daphne’s Public Works Department was recognized recently for its recycling program, which has processed over 5 million pounds of material this year, according to Tony Cross, solid waste program coordinator.

In fact, Daphne’s program last month received the Alabama Recycling Coalition’s municipal award for Recycler of the Year.

“We have an efficient system because we simplify it,” Cross said. The city requires residents to separate glass from other materials but workers take care of the rest.

Since city employees separate plastics, paper, cans and other materials, more people seem willing to recycle, Cross said.

Since last year, a drop-off location off Public Works Road has helped them increase recycled materials by about 1 million pounds, he said.

“Many individuals and businesses from outside the city limits call us for pick-ups,” he said. “We aren’t allowed to pick up outside the city limits, but they are allowed to drop it off.

“Most Mondays when we return to work, that drop-off area is slap full.”

The overall recycling cuts costs with the help of prison inmates under the work-release program.

On a typical day, workers sort type one plastics from types two through seven (the types are distinguished inside a triangle stamped on the bottom of plastic containers.

The lower the density of plastic, the higher the number). Inmates also remove contaminants.

“Many people bring us Styrofoam and plastic Wal-Mart bags, which can’t be recycled,” Cross said. “We get a lot of Pyrex and coffee pots too. Those can’t be recycled because they’ve already been heat-treated.”

Attention to detail and simple approach have helped Daphne reach Recycler of the Year, Cross said.

“That’s why we have the award, so we can recognize groups that are doing a good job and direct new programs to learn from them,” Haywood Dozier, of the Alabama Recycling Coalition, said.