BATON ROUGE, LA – The Metro Council is being urged to block a proposed waste disposal facility on Florida Boulevard, citing concerns that the project could interfere with what officials described as the area’s “existing, naturally occurring trash ecosystem.”
According to opponents, the stretch of Florida Boulevard near the Comite and Amite rivers has spent decades developing an organic, decentralized approach to waste management, one that relies heavily on flooding, gravity, and several residents quietly placing unwanted furniture and TVs near the shoulder of the highway “just for a minute.”
“This is a floodplain,” one official explained, noting that seasonal high water already ensures garbage is redistributed across parish lines efficiently and without permits. “Adding a formal facility could concentrate trash in one location, which goes against everything this area has worked so hard not to plan.”
Council members also expressed concern that a waste facility could threaten Florida Boulevard’s role as a major gateway into East Baton Rouge Parish, an honor traditionally marked by aging signage, stalled economic development, and a rotating display of roadside debris and the occasional abandoned Chevy truck.
The issue is expected to come before the council on Wednesday, at which point officials will decide whether Florida Boulevard needs a dedicated waste facility or simply more time to remain exactly as it is.
