By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Residents of St. John Parish want an expanded recycling program in the parish, they just don’t want to pay for it, say results of a telephone and Internet survey conducted by St. John officials.

St. John Public Information Officer Buddy Boe said over 56 percent of the residents polled said they would like to see more drop off locations throughout the parish for the collection of recyclable materials instead of weekly curbside pickup from their homes, a service that would have cost residents an extra $2.50 a month.

Boe said the poll was a result of numerous requests from residents asking for a curbside program. He said the administration felt it was the best way to gauge the desire of all parish residents before enforcing a new government program. Boe said the poll cost the parish about $350, and questioned residents across all seven of the parish’s districts.

The poll said 24 percent of the residents who participated said they wanted curbside recycling at their residence. More than 18 percent answered that they had no interest in an expended recycling program.

Now that the survey is complete, and the results are in, Boe said the issue will now go before the St. John Council for final authorization. He said the administration would then determine the number of drop off spots, and where they would be located in the parish. St. John already operates one drop off location behind the parish office building on Airline Highway in LaPlace.

“We are probably looking at about seven locations spread throughout the parish,” said Boe. “Two on the West Bank, one in Garyville, one in Reserve, and two additional locations in LaPlace.”

Boe said the bins for the drop off locations would cost the parish about $125 per month to rent, with a $400 roll off charge each time they need to be emptied. He said the lone LaPlace location averages about two pickups per month.

The program will run for six months so that it can be monitored for success at each of the drop off locations. Boe said at the end of six months, the program will be reevaluated to determine if it should continue. He said funds for the program will be taken from the solid waste and beautification budget.

Boe said SWDI, the company that handles garbage pick up for St. John, would handle collection from the drop off sites. He said the locations would be put in place by July 1.