RECYCLING PROGRAM REPORTS SUCCESS WITH CITY PROGRAM

The Cape Girardeau Public Works Department reported this week that the city's new curbside recycling collection already has reduced significantly the amount of waste going to the city landfill.

After the program's first three weeks of operation, residents have separated more than 62 tons of recyclable materials, which represents about 20 percent of all residential solid waste.

The Public Works Department reported that the citizen cooperation thus far has been "substantial" and will help the city meet requirements of the Missouri solid waste law. The law mandates a 40 percent reduction in the amount of waste going to landfills by 1998.