NATCHEZ — Without any fanfare or celebration, Natchez Metals and Recycling began recycling on Monday.

Natchez Metals co-owner Bubba Kaiser said the first day of operations went smoothly.

“It was very good,” he said.

Kaiser said even before he was accepting recyclables he was getting calls from those interested in recycling to ask about drop-off times and materials.

“A lot of people were saving their stuff for today,” he said.

And the evidence was there in the recycling bins in front of Kaiser’s operation.

While the bin for steel cans was barely full, the bins for plastic were filled to capacity and approaching overflow.

But the most notable contribution of the day came from one local business owner that dropped of an enormous trailer load of cardboard.

Kaiser said the business owner told him he realized he would save money by not having to pay to have the cardboard hauled off.

And it’s that type of thinking that Kaiser, and others interested in recycling, said will make the Natchez recycling effort a success.

Kaiser said once others realize a savings for their businesses he expects they’ll start bringing in more recyclable materials.

Dickey King, unofficial head of the recycling committee, said he was very pleased with Monday’s progress.

And King was at Natchez Metals on Monday, to talk with some early morning recyclers.

“They were thrilled,” he said.

King said now that area residents have a place to take their recyclables the committee will focus on promoting recycling in local schools.

“It’ll grow,” he said of the program. “It just takes time.”