WEST POINT — Each day, West Point’s six schools dispose of about 5,000 half-pint plastic milk jugs.
Thanks to a grant from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the schools soon will be able to recycle those milk jugs, helping to save both the environment and city landfill fees.
MDEQ announced Tuesday it had awarded the city of West Point a solid waste assistance grant in the amount of $20,200 to be used for recycling efforts.
“What it should do is help reduce the amount (of garbage) that we put into the landfill and also gets our students to think more green,” Susie Walker, director of child nutrition for West Point School District.
“What we have decided to do is purchase some (recyclables) dump sites for our schools,” explained Justin Estes, administrative intern for the mayor’s office.
The recycling bins will be designated specifically for the schools to recycle milk jugs.
“That is going to save an incredible amount in the landfill,” said Melanie Busby, grant writer for the city of West Point. “(The schools) will be able to fill (the recycling bins) all by themselves.”
The city also plans to launch an intense campaign to educate students about the importance of recycling.
“We’re going to hang banners up and hold recycling programs to teach kids to recycle and how recycling can be fun,” Estes said, noting the city already has one large community recyclable collection bin in the Kroger parking lot.
Also, all city offices and buildings utilize small recyclable collection bins.
The city contracts with Triangle Maintenance Services of Lowndes County for recycling pickup. The company also offers residents in West Point and Columbus curbside pickup for a small monthly fee.
“We are pleased to award this grant to West Point to encourage additional recycling,” said Trudy Fisher, MDEQ executive director.
“Mayor Scott Ross and the city have already shown exceptional leadership in initiating a recycling program in city buildings and the availability of curbside recycling for city residents.”
“We are grateful to Director Fisher and the MDEQ staff for their support of our efforts in West Point. This effort will not only save the city money, but it is simply the right thing to do,” said Ross.
West Point officials are in discussions with Starkville Recycling Services, Mississippi Industrial Waste and Triangle Maintenance Services about picking up the school’s milk jugs for recycling.
The city also is exploring getting another community collection bin for recyclables.
In Lowndes County, Triangle Maintenance Services has 17 big blue recycling drop-off locations set up around the city. The company also recycles materials for businesses and manufacturing operations looking to save on landfill expenses.
Starkville residents are offered curbside recycling paid for by the city and picked up by the Sanitation Department.
Starkville residents who already get curbside garbage pickup can sign up for curbside recycling pickup Monday through Friday at the Sanitation Department on Curry Street or at the Starkville Community Market, which takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on South Lafayette Street.
For inquiries about curbside pickup in Columbus and West Point, call Triangle Maintenance Services at 662-244-1555.
