Forest Park to pilot monitored recycling drop-off at 327 Lamar Drive with Waste Management

Forest Park officials on Aug. 18 approved a plan to pilot a monitored community recycling drop-off at 327 Lamar Drive for one month, aiming to reduce contamination and educate residents about acceptable materials.

Director Matthews and a Waste Management representative described the trial as a six-hour-per-day pilot in which Waste Management will waive hauling costs and the city will pay for an on-site attendant to guide residents and provide education. The pilot will accept clean, presorted recyclables; a specific list of accepted materials will be distributed before the site reopens.

Director Matthews said the goal is to “reopen the recycling center, get the community involved by educating them on what materials... shouldn't go in the carts” and to collect data on tonnage and contamination during the trial. Council members urged extensive outreach; Councilman Mears suggested printed mailers for older residents, and Councilmember Gutierrez and others emphasized town halls, block parties and social-media outreach as education channels.

Council discussion emphasized enforcement and preventing the site from reverting to an informal dump for appliances and construction debris. The pilot will provide labeled slots for paper, glass, cardboard and plastics to reduce single-stream contamination. Staff said they will return to the council with metrics after the trial, including the collected tonnage of clean recyclables and contamination rates.