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Meeting about the possibility of a Recycling Program <br />June 15, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. <br />Those attending the meeting were Mayor Hashmi, Council Member Lancaster, City Manager <br />John Godwin, Public Works Director Jerry McDaniel, City Clerk Janice Ellis and Anna Spencer. <br />The meeting was called to assess the progress of recycling in the city of Paris and to determine if <br />anything could be done to promote it. <br />Citizen Anna Spencer presented everyone with a hand -out entitled "Recycling Facts." Mayor <br />Hashmi said he invited Ms. Spencer to this meeting, because she had spoken at a Council <br />meeting about this subject. He also said a recycling program was previously discussed but did <br />not come to fruition. Mayor Hashmi said this time he would really like for them to assess its <br />feasibility and attractive option for the city, both financially and as an environmental protection <br />mechanism. <br />Ms. Spencer explained that the Choctaw Nation had a recycling center that was run by <br />volunteers. She said they had roll -off bins at various locations and the center took aluminum <br />cans, plastic and paper. Ms. Spencer said they bailed and sold the recyclable material and the <br />company that purchased the material from the Choctaw Nation was responsible for picking up <br />the material from the center at their own expense. <br />Mayor Hashmi inquired about incentives for citizens to get involved in recycling or bring <br />materials for recycling that may be sold by the city. It was however felt that since the city was <br />not in the business of recycling that it would not be a good option. <br />At this point with suggestions from resident Anna Spencer, it was noted that if the city were to <br />start a program and put proceeds coming from the program into a fund for improvements of city <br />parks and possibly using it as additional funds for repair work of the trail, the city might save <br />money and this might greatly encourage residents and children in the community to promote, <br />encourage, and develop habits of recycling materials. <br />Ms. Spencer said if the city recycles a lot they would be spending less money on the landfill fees. <br />With that in mind, Mayor Hashmi also suggested that the money saved by the city on what they <br />would have spent on putting items in the landfill could be placed in the special fund as a <br />matching contribution from the city. <br />Mayor Hashmi asked about the costs of providing carts and the ability of placing the carts in <br />more than a couple of places. Mr. Godwin said he would get the cost information to them and <br />suggested sites should be selected on convenience for citizens, such as elementary schools. <br />Mayor Hashmi asked when staff could bring something to the Council. Mr. Godwin said staff <br />could place this item on a July agenda. Mayor Hashmi asked that the information include the <br />number of containers needed, the costs involved, possible locations, and a summary of <br />incentives. <br />