Landfill encourages Christmas season recycling

By Lucy Parker
Once the presents have all be ripped open on Christmas morning, Washington Parish residents will likely be left with piles of recyclable material which the Choctaw Landfill will be happy to accept.

Solid waste supervisor Troy Barber encourages residents to drop off wrapping paper, boxes, plastics and other Christmas-related items for recycling.

“The landfill’s busiest day of the year, as far as intake volume, is the day after Christmas,” he said.

Christmas trees will be accepted as well, with a special dumpster provided, Barber said.

The landfill has been operating a residential recycling program, where residents can drop off recyclable items free of charge, for about a month. Paper items, metal cans, E-waste and No. 1 and No. 2 plastics are accepted. Most plastics have a marking at the bottom that includes the number within a triangle of arrows.

Barber asks that people separate their recyclables and ensure all items are free of labels and food before drop-off. A scale clerk will provide instructions about where each item should be placed, he said.

Both Barber and Parish President Richard Thomas encourage parish residents to take advantage of the landfill’s recycling program.

“Over the last three years, Choctaw Landfill has received an additional 400 tons of waste during Christmas week,” Barber said. “By recycling you are helping the landfill and our community.”

Proceeds from recyclables, which currently bring in about $100 to $120 per ton for the landfill, are put towards program operations and development, Barber said.

Throughout the holidays, the recycling program will remain on its regular schedule of 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, when the landfill will be closed.