NATCHEZ — The Mississippi Recycling Coalition recently recognized the City of Natchez’s curbside recycling program as New Program of the Year.

Natchez Community Development Director James Johnston presented the award to Mayor Butch Brown at Tuesday’s aldermen meeting.

Mark Williams of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said the award was established approximately three years ago to provide recognition and encouragement to communities and organizations starting new recycling programs.

The City of Natchez began its citywide curbside recycling program in July through Waste Pro USA. The city and Waste Pro have also partnered with the nonprofit Green Alliance to educate the public on recycling.

“The city has an invaluable partnership with the Green Alliance … (which) has contributed significantly to the implementation and initial success of the city’s recycling program,” Williams said.

The city received the award based on its commitment to starting and providing comprehensive recycling services to residents, Williams said, and its “work to improve and enhance recycling conditions in the region.”

The city has teamed with the City of Brookhaven to apply for a grant through MDEQ’s Regional Recycling Cooperative Grants Program.

The grant would help pay for educational and marketing efforts to educate residents of participating communities on recycling, as well as transportation and equipment.

Recycling bins would be placed downtown as well as at the Adams County Port where local industries could recycle.

Brown said the award is proof of the city’s commitment to recycling and making its program the best.

“If we’re participating in something, we want to do it the best,” he said.

Green Alliance Chairman Jim Smith said the city currently has 25 percent participation in the curbside recycling program.

“Starting out, the average … is less than 15 percent for the rural South, so we are really happy with the 25 percent,” he said.

During the second year, Smith said he hopes to get 50-percent participation.

“That’s what we would need for the program to be successful,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to get 100 percent … but 50 percent is a good number. That will be a sustainable program.”