Lafayette Parish School System Recycling Initiative Pays Off

During the 2016-2017 school year, the Lafayette Parish School system, in partnership with Waste Management, started a recycling initiative at 20 school and office sites across the parish. Over the course of the year, LPSS recycled 38.28 tons of waste, averaging almost 20% of the total commercial recycling volume in Lafayette. Because the participating schools were able to reduce dramatically the waste going in to their dumpsters, Waste Management recommends downsizing the number of dumpsters at these sites, which will allow the school system to realize $25,000 in savings. LPSS staff plan to propose that the School Board launch the recycling program at all campuses in the upcoming school year. The program is expected to pay for itself and even position the district to realize additional savings.