Christmas Tree Recycling

To dispose of a live Christmas tree, the City of Paducah urges residents to recycle by taking the tree to the Compost Facility located at 1560 North 8th Street during regular business hours.  The facility is open Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Please remove all lights, garland, and ornaments before taking the tree to the Compost Facility.  Residents also can dispose of trees by placing them next to their garbage.

Waste Stream Reduction

Through composting, the City of Paducah is reducing the waste stream by more than 23%.  This diversion occurs from the yard waste as well as the biosolids from the wastewater treatment process.  Click Compost Facility for more information about the facility located on North 8th Street and the composting process.  The City of Paducah also offers a corrugated cardboard recycling program for local businesses.  The cardboard is collected and recycled at GPS-Recycle Now.  This amounts to approximately a 3% reduction in our waste stream.  The combination of these recycling programs amounts to more than a 26% reduction in our waste stream. This surpasses the State's goals for reduction and recycling set in 1997 of 25%.

 GPS-RecycleNow 

GPS-RecycleNow also provides recycling opportunities.  The GPS (Greater Paducah Sustainability) project is a local nonprofit organization focused on developing and implementing long term environmentally focused sustainable programs for the greater Paducah/McCracken County area through partnerships between communities, organizations, business, and government.  RecycleNow is the GPS initiative focused on the development and implementation of a long term sustainable recycling program within the City of Paducah and McCracken County with the ultimate goal of leading the Purchase Area’s commitment to the responsible and proper handling of all recyclable materials.  GPS-RecycleNow holds its collection events at its building at 1830 North 8th Street. 

Hours of Operation: 

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Saturday 8:00 a.m.-noon  

Phone:  (270)933-1049

Donation Form-Accepted Items List >>

 GPS-RecycleNow accepts

• All Plastic (except Styrofoam):  rinsed with caps removed.  Caps can be placed in with the plastic.  Bags should be separated as another item. 
• Glass Bottles and Jars:  rinsed with no lids (candles, ceramics, and Pyrex cannot be accepted)
• Aluminum Beverage Cans
• Metal Cans:  Steel or tin food cans and pet food cans
• Cardboard and Pasteboard:  Please bundle 
• Mixed Paper:  Please separate from cardboard.  Must be tied, boxed, bagged, or bundled.  Will accept newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard, printer paper, books, phone books, shredded paper (please bag shredded paper to prevent spillage)
• E-Scrap:  Computers, monitors, other household electronics, cell phones, printer/copier ink/toner cartridges.
• All batteries will be accepted.
• TV's:  There is a fee of $10-small; $15-medium; and $20-large.
• Scrap Metal:  Ask first before bringing large items  

Please rinse cans and bottles.  Paper must be clean, dry, and bundled.  Separate your recyclable items into the different groups.  Use paper/plastic bags or boxes to help sort and carry the times. 

February 2012 Newsletter >>

January 2012 Newsletter >>

December 2011 Newsletter >>

Curbside Recycling Pilot Program

On June 21, 2011, the Mayor and Commissioners approved a municipal order to support the initiative of a private company, Dream Green, to offer curbside recycling in the City of Paducah and McCracken County.  This is a pilot program that will last two to three years to generate data regarding the public’s interest in curbside recycling and the feasibility of the process.  Subscription to the program will be voluntary.  The pilot program will be operated by Dream Green, a company founded by April Freeman and Casi McClure.  Dream Green won the business plan competition through EntrePaducah.  Dream Green will offer curbside pick-up, or they will come to your door.  They will sort the items for you, but please rinse first.  Dream Green will collect plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, tin, and e-scrap.  They plan to begin servicing the City of Paducah and McCracken County in August.

For more information about Dream Green, visit their Facebook page, call 270-442-2088, or send them an email.  The mailing address is P.O. Box 299, Paducah, Kentucky 42002-0299. 

Private Recycling Companies

To find the recycling centers in any Kentucky county (including centers in McCracken County), click Kentucky Division of Waste Management.  Click Recycling Centers to link to a website that allows you to enter your zip code to find recycling centers in your region.  It also provides driving directions.  However, the list of local recycling centers is not as complete as what you will find on the Kentucky Division of Waste Management website.  Below is a summary of the information on the Kentucky Division of Waste Management website.  Please check with the facility for its hours and details of what it accepts.