Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has selected a firm to develop a recycling and composting facility on airport grounds, moving forward on a project that has taken years to advance.

The Atlanta airport has chosen Green Energy and Development Inc. to develop the facility it calls Green Acres on 30 acres of property on the south side of the airport in Clayton County.

Green Energy and Development Inc. was one of six firms to compete for the contract with Hartsfield-Jackson, along with Cash Development LLC, Randolph & Company LLC, Columbia Technology LLC, Multiplex LLC and Sun State Organics LLC.

Airport officials are seeking Atlanta City Council approval for a 30-year lease with Green Energy and Development Inc., with two five-year renewal options.

The airport says in documents submitted to city council that the cost of services will be up to $215,883 a year.

Hartsfield-Jackson officials want to recycle waste generated at the world’s busiest airport and compost chipped yard trimmings from the city’s public works department.

Since 2012, only about 5 percent of waste generated at the Atlanta airport’s terminals and concourses has been recycled, even though 85 percent of the waste stream is recyclable or compostable.

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