LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY | Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto
A DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
Through the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) thousands of community volunteers are
collecting data along the upper, middle and lower Mississippi River to increase our understanding of the
state of plastic pollution. This information is being captured through a free mobile app for
tracking upstream and coastal litter called the Debris Tracker.
EPA is hosting a workshop on EPA Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Research Project on
Dec. 5, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality,
Room C-111, 602 N. Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. If you are interested in becoming involved, register here:
https://projects.erg.com/conferences/epa/register-mrpp.asp.
On September 13, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $100 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expand recycling infrastructure and waste management systems across the country. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) was a recipient of an award, along with the city of New Orleans and the city of West Monroe.
With this recycling grant, LDEQ will:
Follow this link for a full list of grant recipients: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-09/Louisiana_SWIFR.pdf
According to a recent report from The Recycling Partnership, strong end markets in the Gulf Coast region area a boon for recyclers, but lack of access and infrastructure stands in the way of better recycling rates. Read the full article here: https://www.wastedive.com/news/recycling-partnership-louisiana-curbside-recycling-end-markets/690688/
Through a recycling pilot project from the Louisiana Beverage Association in coordination with the Pontchartrain Conservancy and the Osprey Initiative, as of July 18, 2023 the recycling project was announced in which park visitors can recycle aluminum cans and #1 PET plastic bottles at four state parks – Bogue Chitto, Fairview-Riverside, Fontainebleau, and Tickfaw.
Materials will be collected, sorted, trash contamination removed and collection amounts recorded on a bi-weekly basis. All recycled bottles and cans will be processed at a local materials recovery facility (MRF).
The 2024 Paris Games next summer has redesigned the torch to feature a sleek silver-colored cylinder that is made of recycled steel in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the 2,000 torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The City of West Monroe and The Recycling Partnership have announced a formal relationship that will provide additional $84,500 in funds to the West Monroe Recycling Center to enhance recycling operations.
The West Monroe Recycling Center is a free drop-off facility for the general public despite where they may live. The Recycling Center is open on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ascension Parish has opened a new drop-off recycling location at 2171 D Thibaut Dr., Donaldsonville, LA.
The new location accepts the same materials as the existing one (located at 42077 Church Point Road, Gonzales, La.), including cardboard and paper, plastic containers, cartons, and aluminum and metal cans.
NOTE: Plastic bags, glass, and household garbage are not accepted at the recycling drop-off facilities.
For more information visit http://www.ascensionparish.net/keep-ascension-beautiful.