Dothan Public Works Department now has more money to expand the city's recycling program.

It's all thanks to a grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

The grant is worth $224,000 and while that isn't enough money to create a city wide program, the goal is to have the entire city recycling after a 5 phase plan.

Currently, select neighborhoods in Dothan participate in the pilot curb side recycling program, but years down the line that is expected to change.

A grant issued by ADEM will help the city complete phase one out of five, which is expected to take recycling to a whole new level.

During this first phase, 12 more 40 yard containers and a transport vehicle which will be used to haul the containers will be purchased.

Each container costs about $8,000.

The containers are all custom made and are compartmentalized. They not only have swing doors, but also have swing gates that help to keep the materials separated.

With the left over money, educational materials will be bought to encourage residents to recycle and signs will be put up at the current drop off sites.

City manager Mike West is a long time supporter of curb side recycling and looks forward to a day when all residents can participate in the program.

"We throw away so much and there are a lot of things we can reuse and when you look at the number of trees we spend on producing newspaper which is so easily recyclable in newsprint, it isn't right if we don't do everything we can" said West.

With this grant, the city will have to pay for these items up front and then be reimbursed by the state.

The city hopes to be able to pay for the other phases through grants as well.

There is not a scheduled timeline on when all phases will be completed.

Until then, you can still use the city's drop-off locations for recyclables.