The parish is distributing containers for Jefferson's recycling program this week. 

Jefferson Parish hasn't provided curbside recycling since Katrina.  Marnie Winter, director of Jefferson Parish Environmental Affairs Office, says a lot of residents want the program back and the state legislature passed an act, "Setting a goal of 30% for communities to reduce the solid waste going to their landfills."

Click here for more on recycling from Jefferson Parish, including which items will be accepted  for recycling (.pdf).

She says this program will still cost taxpayers, but the prices have come down in the past few years, and she says the economics will get better as more people participate.

According to the Jefferson Parish web site: "Unlike the pre-Katrina recycling program, there will be no service charge to citizens on their water bills for recycling. The parish will pay Progressive Waste Solutions of Louisiana (PWSLA) $1.59/month per residence, which is lower than the pre-Katrina cost of $1.87/month per residence.

"The cost of the first year of the program, about $2.1 million, will be paid from the existing Consolidated Garbage District #1 fund balance, at no additional cost to citizens. After the first year, the program will be paid from the recently renewed Consolidated Garbage District #1 millage, which also supports operation and maintenance of the Jefferson Parish Landfill and collection and disposal of residential garbage and trash from Jefferson Parish offices and facilities.

"The parish is also exploring using revenues that would be generated by acceptance of additional out-of-parish wastes at the Parish Landfill to support the recycling program."