St. Landry Parish Solid Waste
450 North C.C. Duson Drive Eunice, LA , Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States

The St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Disposal District provides residential and commercial solid waste collection and disposal, as well as operation of the St. Landry Parish Landfill and recycling centers for residents and businesses of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.

In 1980, the St. Landry Parish Government, formerly the St. Landry Parish Police Jury, along with the Parish's twelve municipalities, petitioned the Louisiana legislature to create the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Disposal District in accordance with 1979 state law which required the clean up of all open dumps by January, 1986. 

The District operates with funds generated by 8/10 (eight tenths) of one percent sales tax.  This funding provided for the closure of 187 then illegal dumps, house-to-house garbage collection and the initial construction and ongoing operations of the St. Landry Parish Landfill and the St. Landry Parish Recycling Centers.

Public Services

The St Landry Parish contractor is Progressive Waste Solutions (337-942-1291). There is no charge to St. Landry Parish residents for collection service. The collection cost is paid for by funds generated from an 8/10 (eight tenths) of one percent sales tax.

Collection crews start at 4:00 a.m. (Monday-Saturday), with collection twice a week in municipalities and once a week in parish. Presently they collect an unlimited amount of residential waste at the curbside or roadside. Businesses with small amounts of waste can be considered a service unit for residential collection but are only allowed up to 5 - 32 gal. containers per pick up.

All items must be containerized not to exceed 32 gals. or 75 pounds. Yard waste should be secured no longer than 6 feet and not over 75 lbs. Bulky waste should be put with regular waste for collection. White goods must be placed at curbside. A special collection truck will collect these items on a predetermined schedule.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day

For customers who have once a week pickup, if your regular pickup day falls on a holiday, your solid waste will be picked up on an alternate day during that week. The alternate collection day will be published in the local newspaper.

For customers who have twice a week pickup, if one of your regular pickup days falls on a holiday, your solid waste will be picked up on your next regular collection day.

Disposal / Diversion

St. Landry Solid Waste operates a Type II Subtitle D  Landfill. We cannot accept hazardous waste or industrial byproducts. All other general household waste/construction waste/business waste is accepted. Individuals are allowed to bring items to the landfill and allowed access to ramps for disposal. Individuals must be prepared to unload their own waste. 

Wood waste conversion to mulch, white goods recycling, waste tire recycling (5 tires per licensed driver per day), scrap iron recycling, automotive batteries, and waste oil recycling (5 gal. per week per licensed driver) is ongoing at the landfill.  The Recycling Centers and some municipalities also receive waste oil for recycling.

Recycling Centers

Solid Waste operates two recycling centers located at 2717 West Landry Street in Opelousas, LA and 450 North CC Duson in Eunice, LA. 

The centers are open Monday thru Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  We accept cardboard, newspaper, magazines, and other paper products, aluminum and metal cans, and most plastic products.  Both locations operate a buy back center where individuals are paid for items they deliver. Also, we have set up school accounts where items can be donated to the schools. 

Education

Recycling Education Awareness Program (REAP) is provided by Solid Waste via the Character Links program.  It aligns recycling with grade level equivalent (GLE’s)  lesson plans as required by the State Board of Education. The recycling information consists of 15 different lesson plans provided to all 2nd grade classes in the parish.  These lesson plans are integrated with regular classroom subjects. Educators are contacted at mid-term on progress and at year end. All 2nd grade educators are sent an evaluation summary which also includes environmental awareness testimonials.  An evaluation of the program is presented by Character Links to the Solid Waste Commission in June of each year. 

Litter Abatement

Solid Waste in conjunction with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff Department provide two litter abatement crews.  One crew is assigned strictly to the twelve municipalities on a rotation basis, and the other crew is assigned to parish abatement. These crews each collect approximately 30 cubic yards of waste per week.

Residential Drop Off Centers

Both centers accept donations to school accounts from the public.  Items accepted at both locations include cardboard, newsprint, shredded paper, files, magazines, other paper products, aluminum and metal cans, and most plastics.

Commercial Recycling

The Recycling Center in Opelousas provides recycling containers to businesses throughout the parish for a monthly charge of $15.00 a month. Recycling of cardboard and other fibers by businesses significantly offsets traditional waste collection costs.A request for bin placement should be made to Leonard Wilson (337) 942-9576. Any business wishing to recycle may also elect to deliver their materials to either recycling center.