Recycling in downtown Natchez is a little easier now thanks to the addition of nearly 45 metal receptacles.

The recycling receptacles were placed recently along Main and Franklin streets, as well as the cross streets between them, and along the bluff as part of an effort to expand recycling efforts in the region.

Green Alliance member Jim Smith, who also works at Concordia Metals, said the receptacles help give residents and visitors more chances to recycle, and display the area’s commitment to recycling.

“When you have visitors coming to Natchez who are recycling in their cities, it means a lot when they see those,” Smith said. “It’s not only about the volume of what’s collected, but the visibility goes a long way.”

Smith said distribution of the recycling receptacles coincides with the newest recycling methods in larger cities, where municipalities are striving to have a recycling receptacle next to each trashcan.

“They refer to it as ‘universal recycling,’ and that’s what we’re kind of working toward here,” Smith said. “Anytime you give people the opportunity to recycle instead of throw stuff away, that’s a good thing.”

Several 35- and 95-gallon recycling containers and two waste compactors and compactor containers were also purchased as part of the regional recycling grant.

The City of Natchez administered the grant for itself, the City of Brookhaven and Wilkinson County.

The grant came with no requirement for local dollars.

Through the grant, Natchez received the metal receptacles, as well as one of the compactors and containers, which was placed on the Wall Street side of the convention center. The second compactor was placed at the Wilkinson County transfer station.

Smith said public works employees empty the recycling receptacles downtown and along the bluff into the large compactor near the convention center, which Waste Pro picks up when full.

The 95-gallon containers will be placed at Natchez City Hall, at the Natchez Transit Facility, the Natchez Visitor Center, the Natchez Senior Center, the National Park service locations, Copiah-Lincoln Community College and Alcorn State University’s Natchez campuses, the Natchez-Adams County Airport, the Natchez-Adams County Port and the county’s public schools and libraries.

The recycling program at local schools and businesses, Smith said, will help push the amount of recycling collected throughout Natchez.

“We were getting about 7 tons a week before all those items went out, and it’s gone up to about 10 tons so far,” Smith said. “We’re thinking that’s going to go up more since the schools have been out for the holidays and other businesses haven’t really started using their containers yet.”

Wilkinson County received 20 of the 95-gallon containers, which were placed in its public schools, county departments and local department of human services.

Brookhaven received all 900 of the 35-gallon plastic containers, which will be distributed to residential houses in the program. The city will also receive 57 of the metal receptacles.