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City staff says Biloxi recycling rates are strong; authority sends material to out-of-state sorter
Summary
Utility and staff representatives told the council Biloxi’s recycling rate runs about 45–50 percent, with materials shipped out of state for sorting. Officials said the main payback is reduced landfill tonnage but noted challenges from contamination and shipping costs.
The Biloxi City Council received an update on the city’s recycling program on March 17, with staff describing recycling rates that compare favorably to national averages and explaining where materials are processed.
A staff member who followed the recycling supply chain said Biloxi runs "between 45–50% recycling, which is very good nationally," and that the city sends collected materials out of state to a sorting facility. The same speaker described a follow-the-material exercise published locally showing the path from bin to truck to sorter.
City staff said the principal financial payback of recycling is reducing the tons sent to landfill rather than direct revenue from recyclables, and they acknowledged concerns about contamination when non-recyclable trash is placed in recycling bins.
Councilmembers asked for a fuller report and a breakdown of tonnage and costs; staff said the utility authority already monitors tonnage and that a fuller update would be provided at a future meeting.
No legislative action or budget request was made at the meeting. Councilmembers encouraged staff to return with more data about contamination rates, end-market economics and operational costs.
