The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has agreed to pay $1.3 million for property for a second Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful recycling center.

The proposed center, which officials hope will be complete in late fall or winter 2009, will become the county's main recycling center, said Connie Wiggins, executive director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful.

County officials approved the purchase of the 14.5 acres on Cedars Road in eastern Gwinnett —- a square chunk of land just south of Ga. 316 and the Gwinnett County Airport.

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful's original Recycling Bank of Gwinnett, on Satellite Boulevard in Duluth, burned on June 25. That center is currently being rebuilt and is expected to be ready by November.

Wiggins said Wednesday she was grateful that expansion plans could now go forward —- but stressed none of it would be possible "without the great leadership of the Board of Commissioners and our board of directors."

"This new facility will be state of the art," Wiggins said, "and will mean that Gwinnett County meets or exceeds our community needs and sets the bar for recycling in the country."

She said the proposed center will require 12 months to build once construction begins.

The county is paying Madison Ventures, LTD —- real estate investor Wayne Mason's company —- $1.3 million for the land bordered by the railroad tracks behind Gwinnett County Airport and facing Cedars Road.

Given that undeveloped land in Gwinnett is going for $150,000 and up per acre, said Ron Hovell, who handles real estate for the county, it seemed like a good deal.

"We had looked at a number of properties," Hovell said, "and talked to a number of other owners —- this one accepted our offer of $90,000 an acre."

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful's headquarters is at 750 S. Perry St. in Lawrenceville, although that may eventually change as well, Wiggins said.

Additional office area is needed and the organization is looking for space to expand.

 DALE E. DODSON / Staff
Map shows location of Recycling center site.  Inset map shows Area of detail as it relates to Gwinnett County and Atlanta.