Recycling pilot project launched at 4 Louisiana state parks
Published 2:35 pm Saturday, July 22, 2023
- Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Louisiana State Parks launched the Let Louisiana Shine Park Recycling Program on Tuesday, July 18, in coordination with the Louisiana Beverage Association, Pontchartrain Conservancy, and Osprey Initiative. Joining Lieutenant Governor Nungesser for the announcement was (from left to right): Cliff Melius (Louisiana State Parks), Jeffrey Meadows (Tickfaw State Park) , Troy Carney (Tickfaw State Park Manager), Keli Williams (Louisiana Beverage Association), Cory Stewart (Coca-Cola United), Kristi Trail (Pontchartrain Conservancy executive director), Brandon Burris (Louisiana State Parks), Don Bates (President/Owner Osprey Initiative), Marvin Steinback (Fairview State Park Manager) Richard Parker (Southern State Parks District Manager), Maureen O’Brien (St. Tammany Parish Council), Jennifer Wallace (Fontainebleau State Park Manager), Jimmy Davis (St Tammany Parish Council) and Tyrin Truong (Mayor of Bogalusa).
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MANDEVILLE – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of State Parks today announced the launch of the Let Louisiana Shine Park Recycling Program, a new recycling pilot project for aluminum cans and #1 PET plastic bottles at four state parks – Bogue Chitto, Fairview-Riverside, Fontainebleau, and Tickfaw state parks. This recycling pilot project is made possible through a grant from the Louisiana Beverage Association in coordination with the Pontchartrain Conservancy and the Osprey Initiative.
“Litter impacts Louisiana in so many ways hurting the environment, quality of life, and economic development,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “By providing park visitors with recycling bins where they are using cans and plastic-drink bottles, we hope to not only prevent these items from entering waterways and roadways but also reduce the amount of recyclable material going to landfills.”
“Pontchartrain Conservancy is happy to assist our partners with recycling. Aside from keeping litter out of our waterways, recycling conserves natural resources, strengthens our economy, and creates jobs. It’s a great way to minimize our environmental impacts while enjoying our state parks,” said Pontchartrain Conservancy Executive Director Kristi Trail.
Materials will be collected, sorted, trash contamination removed, and collection totals recorded on a bi-weekly basis. Data collected over the course of the pilot project will be used to develop best practices and determine how to scale up the program in order to expand into other state parks.
Beverage bottles and cans are designed to be 100% recyclable. All recycled bottles and cans will be processed at a local materials recovery facility (MRF). MRF partners with facilities that provide a circular solution recover more plastic bottles and help reduce the amount of new plastic being used in the market.
To learn more about the pilot program, go to the Let Louisiana Shine Park Recycling Program webpage.