INDEPENDENCE—Tangipahoa Parish Government’s Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful organization has been awarded a nearly $6,000 grant as part of the state’s 2023-24 Greener Grounds initiative.
Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said KTB has been awarded the grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful in an effort to curb litter and promote recycling at one of the parish’s spring festivals.
“This is a first for our parish, as Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful will be working in an ambitious partnership with the Independence Sicilian Heritage Festival this coming March,” Miller said.
The partnership will be used to minimize litter, reduce waste, and promote recycling during the three-day event which is scheduled March 8-10, 2024, in downtown Independence.
“Our goal is to keep recyclables out of our parish landfill,” Miller said, adding that the parish will be working with the Osprey Initiative to actively collect discarded aluminum cans and plastic bottles for recycling at the festival grounds.
Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful board members, Tangipahoa Parish litter abatement staff, and local volunteers are committed to working throughout the three-day event.
“We will be inviting local students to participate in this volunteer effort, and they will be eligible to gain service hours during this event,” Miller said.
In addition to collecting materials for recycling, the grant will also provide for additional trash receptacles on the festival grounds. KTB will also rent water refill stations to be placed at the festival grounds in an effort to encourage participants to refill their plastic bottles and reduce single-use bottle waste from the local landfill.
Signage will be prominently posted around the festival grounds to encourage visitors to recycle and refrain from littering.
“This is a great opportunity for our parish to educate the public and raise awareness for our beautification efforts at a fun, family-friendly event,” Miller said.
Keep Louisiana Beautiful has recognized Tangipahoa’s ongoing efforts to curb littering and promote community beautification for many years. In 2023, Keep Tangipahoa Beautiful was recognized as the state’s top affiliate for its outstanding efforts to reduce waste and educate the public to do its part in making our parish shine.
