When Shreveport Mayor Cedric B. Glover listens, he responds. After hearing from residents who shared his vision of curbside recycling, Glover took the lead in negotiations with the world’s largest privately held paper and packaging company, Pratt Industries.

Today, Mayor Glover proudly announces that Pratt Industries will build its third U-S Waste Paper Recycling Mill at the Port of Shreveport-Bossier. A mill, that represents a $150 Million dollar investment in our community. A move, that will make Shreveport the focal point of one of the largest recycling programs in the South!

“This is an exciting time for the City of Shreveport and I applaud Mayor Glover for his vision, his commitment and relentless efforts to make something once thought unimaginable, today a reality for the citizens of Shreveport”, says Mike Strong, Director of the City’s Department of Operational Services.

Curbside Recycling will be available to all citizens and businesses. They will receive recycle bins that they will put out with their trash bins and Pratt employees will do the separation, curbside.

The collections will be taken to the Port of Shreveport-Bossier, the site of Pratt’s Material Recycling Facility and Paper Mill operation.

“Pratt is set to begin operations next fall and until 2010 there will be no charge. In 2011 a fee of a little over two dollars will be assessed to residents. I am excited”, says Strong.

To encourage recycling, typically $1 per ton is given back to communities for educational purposes. Pratt Industries also pledges to work closely with the City’s environmental agency, Shreveport Green, to reinforce the message that recycling provides many long-term benefits and protects the legacy we leave for future generations.

The official Ground Breaking Ceremony for Pratt Industries’ third U-S Waste Paper Recycling Mill at the Port of Shreveport-Bossier is set for August 15.

Mayor Glover will introduce the new initiative at the Shreveport City Council’s July 24^th regular meeting.

“As Mayor I am extremely excited and proud to make this quality of life initiative a reality .. a move that I see as a clear and definite indication that Shreveport will become, the Next Great City of The South”!