NATCHEZ — Pay a visit to Poncho James was the end result of Monday’s first recycling committee meeting.

Poncho James operates Sumrall Recycling Services, and while he was not at Monday’s meeting, some think he may play a key role in the pending Natchez recycling program.

Dickey King, one of Natchez’s most vocal recycling advocates, said James has the potential to answer many of the important questions the recycling committee needs to contend with.

James’ operation currently buys and sells recyclables from areas like Columbia, Petal and Harrison County.

“He has a wealth of knowledge that we can use,” King said.

King said he believes James will be able to recommend what type of equipment would be needed, what products will be most lucrative to recycle and other basics for starting the project.

“He’ll be able to help us with the ABCs,” he said.

And the ABCs are exactly what Natchez’s Grants Coordinator Brett Brinegar said need to be established for the county and city to most successfully apply for grants to fund the project.

Brinegar said to write a grant successfully she would need to know how much money would be needed to start, what equipment needs to be bought and what should be recycled.

In a joint venture, the city and county could get up to $75,000 in grant funding to start a local recycling program.

“We need a basic plan,” Brinegar said.

To get that plan King and a few other recycling devotees are going to see James.

King said he plans to travel to Sumrall later this week and hopes to have all the relevant information ready to present at the next recycling meeting.

And if the next meeting, on Sept. 2, is anything like the first meeting, the recycling effort should succeed.

A crowd of about 40 filled the Adams County supervisors’ building to discuss several aspects of the program.

Adams County Supervisor Mike Lazarus, and half of the current recycling committee, said he was thrilled with the turnout.

“It was really great to see,” he said.

While no official action was taken on Monday, Lazarus said he believes the groundswell of support will aid the project’s success.

“We can do this,” he said.

And Lazarus is not alone in his thinking.

Monday’s meeting was sparked by a meeting last week when supervisors met with Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality representatives to discuss a recycling program.