Recycling

City Receives Grant to Assist in Regional Recycling Efforts

(press release)

The City of Lufkin Regional Recycling Center recently received a $40,000 grant from the Deep East Texas Council of Governments and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The funds will be used to further educate and encourage recycling throughout our 12 county Region.

A mobile recycling unit has been purchased and will be utilized at community drop off sites, school collection drives and special events. The 24 foot trailer has separate compartments to collect aluminum cans, steel cans, plastics #1 and #2, newspapers, magazines, and cardboard.

“This grant accentuates the importance of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Solid Waste Grant Program,” says Walter G. Diggles, Executive Director of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, “and local funds being returned to the local communities within the DETCOG planning region.

“This is the first regional grant awarded by DETCOG, and will help meet the recycling concerns of several of our rural communities,” adds Diggles. “The most important factor is that the program being undertaken by the City of Lufkin conforms to issues addressed in the DETCOG Regional Solid Waste Management Plan.”

Currently, the Regional Recycling Center accepts recyclables at their drop-off facility, located at 500 Southpark in Lufkin. Anyone within the 12 county Region may use the drop off facility, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Recycling is not only good for the environment, but it is good for the economy as well. Our facility accepts recyclable material at no cost to the hauler, saving in monthly landfill tipping fees. The City of Lufkin saves approximately $200,000 annually in landfill costs. We would like to encourage communities in the surrounding area to also take advantage of this cost saving program.

To reserve the mobile recycling unit for community collections, school drives or special events, contact the city’s recycling coordinator at 633-0340.