By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

GRAMERCY – St. James Parish and Keep St. James Beautiful recently kicked off the parish’s newest recycling effort with an event aimed at raising awareness for the program.

With stations set up on both sides of the river, parish residents had the chance to not only bring in recyclable items but also to pick up a plastic container to keep their recyclables in at home.

Although volunteers handed out the containers that resemble those used in curbside recycling programs, Judge Jude Gravois of Keep St. James Beautiful noted curbside service is not yet available and recyclables need to be brought to one of five special dumpsters. The containers, which will be serviced by Ramelli Waste, are located at the courthouse in Convent, the courthouse annex in Vacherie, and the parks located in Gramercy, Welcome and South Vacherie. Units are accessible at all times.

Currently, the program accepts cardboard, office paper, brown paper bags, magazines, junk mail, phone books, newspapers, milk and juice cartons, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and aluminum and tin cans.

Although the parish holds a recycling event every year, this is the first after the reintroduction of formal recycling in the parish.

“We’re kind of testing the waters to see what the interest is,” said Paul Beier, who along with his son Alex, manned the station at the Golden Grove Truck Stop in Gramercy.

“A lot of people have a lot of passion for recycling,” added Gravois.