City of Paris Recycling Drop-Off Exceeding Expectations

The City of Paris is very pleased to report that its new recycling drop-off program is working much  better than expected, and as a result is increasing the number of drop-off containers to better keep up with demand.  “We have four containers in different locations around the city now,” Public Works Director Jerry McDaniel noted.  “We have ordered two more containers, which should be in service in about four weeks.”

The new recycling program, which began January 1 of this year, is offered in partnership with the Choctaw Nation, which collects and transports the recyclable materials at no charge to the city.  Through the first three months of the program, the Choctaw Nation has made 43 trips to Paris, removing 516 cubic yards of loose debris from all locations.  This equates to about 10 sanitation trucks of compacted debris, saving landfill space and collection costs.

Residents may take their recyclables to four convenient locations: Farmers Market, Leon Williams Park, the Trail de Paris parking lot on South Collegiate, and Wade Park.  Materials which can be accepted include: most plastics, cardboard, printer cartridges, junk mail, aluminum and metal cans, Styrofoam, shredded paper, magazines, and newspapers.  Residents are asked to break down boxes, but they do not need to sort the recyclables.

Residents should contact the city’s Public Works Department at 903-784-9266 or 903-784-9289 with any questions or concerns, or to report illegal dumping.  “We’re very pleased to be offering this service and are proud of local citizens’ great participation,” Edwayne Samis, superintendent of sanitation & traffic said.  “Recycling is a great habit to be in.  It’s good for the environment and good for the budget.”