Jefferson Parish to keep recycling, residents will pay more each month - WDSU New Orleans

Jefferson Parish to keep recycling, residents will pay more each month

Residents will pay $4.50 to $7.50 more a month for the service.

The Jefferson Parish Council voted Wednesday to award a new contract for recycling service to Ramelli Waste.

Historically, recycling and trash collection fell under the umbrella of one contract for one fee. That is no longer the case in the parish.

Now, according to estimates released by the parish, residents will pay between $4.50 and $7.50 more a month for recycling.

While the measure was ultimately approved by a majority vote, some council members questioned if the service should continue in Jefferson Parish.

Parish officials estimate that only about 30% of residents currently recycle.

"When you have a program that less than half the parish participates in and 100% of the parish pays for, and 1% of what’s put out for recycling is actually recycled, then there’s a problem," said Councilman Scott Walker.

He asked Robert Ramelli, owner of Ramelli Waste, to look for innovative ways to improve the current situation.

"We recycle the city of Kenner right now, and in the city of Kenner, we throw away not even 1% of what is collected," Ramelli said. "There’s a list of things that we’re going to put together that we’re going to pass out to all the residents so they’ll know what they’re supposed to do."

Ramelli told WDSU his company is prepared to take over recycling service on Jan. 1, adding that within another 30 to 45 days, he can provide residents with new, larger bins to place their recyclables in.