10 daily recycling bins to be placed across parish

Though a measure to add curbside recycling to the garbage contract was shot down late last year, St. Charles Parish residents will soon be able to visit one of 10 permanent recycling bins around the area.

Beginning March 1, recycling bins will be placed at various schools and parks on both the East and West Banks. The 8-cubic-yard bins will be available on a daily basis for residents to drop off their recyclables.

The locations include:

•Lakewood Elementary School, 501 E. Heather Drive, Luling
•Landry Alternative Center, 108 Tiger Circle, Hahnville
•Hahnville High School, 200 Tiger Drive, Boutte
•J.B. Martin Middle School, 434 South St., Paradis
•West Bank Bridge Park, 13825 River Road, Luling
•IMTT Field, 10645 River Road, St. Rose
•East Bank Bridge Park, 9762 River Road, Destrehan
•Behind East St. Charles Fire Station, 1949 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan
•Bethune Park, 301 Bethune St., Norco
•Montz Park, 100 Calcagano St., Montz

Councilmen Shelley Tastet and Larry Cochran, who both hosted town hall recycling meetings in December, called the permanent recycling bins a step in the right direction.

“It’s not curbside recycling, but it’s going to satisfy a lot of people,” Tastet said. “Now, instead of having to wait for a Saturday each month, most people can drive a mile or less to one of these bins and get rid of their recyclables.
“Before, people were really throwing away money when you look at the items they were putting in the regular trash. It’s about the future for everybody, and I really am glad the administration took this step so soon.”

Cochran agreed, saying that the bins will take pressure off of local residents.

“When we had the town hall meetings, a lot of people said that they were having to keep all this recyclable material in their homes while they waited for the recycling day. It was really cumbersome,” he said. “This is about the environment and our future, and I feel it’s a good step forward.”

Cochran said that while the 10 recycling bins will be spread out around the parish, there is always a possibility of adding more.

“But before we add any more we need to see where the need is,” he said. “The administration did a good job with getting this program, and now we just have to wait and see how it’s used.”

Before recycling, residents need to remove all food and liquid from bottles or cans and rinse them and remove caps. Items do not need to be sorted but should be placed together in a bag or box.

Materials accepted include plastic containers (numbers 1-3 and clear drink bottles), white or colored paper, cardboard (without food residue), paperboard (including cereal boxes), newspapers with inserts, magazines, phone books, junk mail and steel, tin and aluminum cans.

Materials not accepted include glass, plastic shopping bags (these may be recycled at local stores), aerosol cans, pots and pans, furniture, toys, Styrofoam, hardback books and paper napkins, cups or plates.

The parish is also seeking feedback on the location of the bins and suggestions on possible additional locations. Residents may call (985) 783-5182 or e-mail publicinfo@stcharlesgov.net.