What We Did
The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana has established local drop-off recycling access for its residents, a first for the rural community. A grant from The Recycling Partnership enabled the purchase of a segmented compartment trailer, signage, and outreach to residents. Before the trailer site opened, the nearest center that accepted recycling was over 30 minutes away. With a small environmental management staff and no nearby residential recycling access, the Tribe was limited to departmental recycling.
Why It Matters
Rural areas need better recycling access — when a community provides that access and communicates about it, residents will use it.
The project shows the power of a simple, flexible intervention backed by outreach via mailers, social media, signage, and a community newsletter. In less than a year since the drop-off site opened, 1.2 tons of residential recycled material had been diverted from local landfills. The wheeled container’s portability also gives the Coushatta Tribe the ability to temporarily relocate it for community-based events. A more convenient and local access area allows rural communities the opportunity to participate in efforts normally only offered to larger metro areas.
What’s Next
The new drop-off site has opened the way for expanded recycling for the Coushatta Tribe. It received a Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will allow a new recycling center to be built. In the meantime, the current trailer compartments for paper and plastic fill at different rates, which can delay hauling, so the Tribe is considering acquiring a second trailer.
Create access. Enable participation. Strengthen rural systems.
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