Anyone in Shreveport can buy a blue recycling bin, and fill it up with tin cans and plastic every week, but it doesn’t mean that the waste will get picked up. And if it did, it is not every day that people can be paid for recycling. That’s why the The Solid Waste Division and the Shreveport Green organization come together throughout the year to help people recycle their toxic wastes for profit. The City of Shreveport shut down their recycling program in 2020, causing disarray in the community. Recyclable items have had to go in the trash, and add to landfill. A year later, the City of Shreveport sued 6 companies for putting Shreveport waste into landfills outside of the city, alleging that this action required the City to charge its citizens for sanitation fees. So, if citizens noticed that recycling trucks stopped coming to their neighborhoods, then this is why.

Not all hope is not lost, in fact hope has only been recycled! To show their commitment to our community, The Solid Waste Division and Shreveport Green organization sponsor a Household Waste Collection event. Citizens have to call Shreveport Green’s number to make an appointment. Afterwards, they can sell objects such as pest spray, old car batteries, used tires, and paint. The Solid Waste Division has a link to a flyer that better illustrates their request. Covid19 has taken a toll on our city’s ability to address environmental issues, but there is still opportunities for a greener future.

This story was authored by Lora Golston.

Resources

1.  Cheng, Isabella. “Where to recycle aluminum, paper, plastic, and more in SBC”. KTLA News. https://www.ktalnews.com/our_environment/shreveport-bossier-where-to-rec... [3]. May 29, 2024. Accessed September 25, 2025.
2.  Cook, Nancy. “City of Shreveport sues six private waste companies for not using City-owned landfill”. KTLA News.https://www.ktalnews.com/news/city-of-shreveport-sues-six-private-waste-... [4]. October 5, 2021. Accessed September 26, 2025.
3.  Wilder, Christopher. “Recycling”. Shreveport Louisiana. https://www.shreveportla.gov/279/Recycling [5]. Accessed September 26, 2025.