Lake Charles has a Green Truck recycling program that is offered to the community where individuals can bring accepted items for recycling such as paper, plastic, cans, cardboard boxes, old cellphones, used ink cartridges, etc.

These items are taken without any form of separation and put in the back of the garbage truck. How can this be recycled effectively if not separated? 

After it leaves the truck, what happens to all of this? How is it handled? Is it separated? Where does it go? Is it really recycled?

City spokesman Matt Young said Lake Charles’ recycling contract is with Waste Management Recycling Services. He said the city takes recyclable materials to Waste Management’s transfer station, at 536 Wesley Road, twice a week.

“From there, Waste Management trucks the collections to Beaumont’s sorting station, where a machine sorts the paper, plastic and aluminum materials,” Young wrote in an email.

“Of note, electronics and ink cartridges are not a part of this program. (These products can be brought to the E-Recycle Day event, hosted annually in March).”

The city’s recycling program operates two drop-off centers — one at 4331 East Broad St. and the other at the Nelson Ball Field on Alma Lane. The first is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The second is open 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

The schedule for the Green Truck, which offers roving recycling services:

• Monday — 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Walmart on U.S. 171.
• Wednesday — 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Kroger on 12th Street.
• Thursday — 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Kmart, corner of Ryan Street and Sale Road.
• Saturday — 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m., Walmart on La. 14; 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Prien Lake Mall.

Additionally, the city has a mercury-collection site — open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday  — at 1132 West 18th St., and the city’s wood waste facility, site of one drop-off center, takes grass cuttings, leaves, paper products, Plastics No. 1 and 2, and aluminum, along with used motor oil.

Also, Young said, a partnership with the Calcasieu Parish School Board and Citgo allows students to take part in the program.

For more information, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.

Cardboard boxes