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City of Paris, Kentucky

The City moved its solid waste transfer station to a new facility and is planning the redevelopment of the former site.

The new transfer station is open.300 Thornberry Way, Paris. Opened May 1, 2025.

Paris Recycling & Waste Depot

Project Status & Key Facts

Status
OpenNew facility opened May 1, 2025.
NextImplementation of plans and redevelopment of the former site.
New facility
Paris Recycling & Waste Depot, 300 Thornberry Way, Paris, KY 40361
Former site
1004 Stewart Street, Paris, KY 40361 · 20.6 acres. Originally a City park, later the City incinerator and transfer station.
Purpose
Replace the former solid waste transfer station and incinerator site, first built as the City incinerator, and redevelop the property.
Funding
$2 million Community Development Block Grant; National Park Service Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance grant; a City General Obligation Bond for the City's portion.
Cleanup funding
$4 million EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant awarded to Bourbon County in June 2026 for the Revive Riverside Park Project at the former site.
Partners
Bourbon County Fiscal Court, Bluegrass Area Development District, Kentucky Brownfield Program, EPA Region 4, University of Kentucky Landscape Architecture, Paris West Side Neighborhood Association, Groundwork USA.
Key milestones
Survey of 300 residents (2022) · Site master plan (2023) · Construction contract (March 2024) · Groundbreaking (April 2024) · Opening (May 1, 2025)
A large group gathered for the presentation of a ceremonial $2 million grant check, with several people holding the check in front.
Presentation of the $2 million state grant check. Photo: Bobby Shiflet | Bourbon County Citizen

The Former Facility

The former Paris transfer station: a brick building with a row of large dumpsters in front.
The former transfer station. Photo: Pat Conley | Bourbon County Citizen
Brick building with open garage bays at the former transfer station.
Former facility building
Metal plaque on a brick wall reading Municipal Incinerator, Paris, Kentucky, 1966, listing the mayor, commissioners, engineers and contractors.
Original Municipal Incinerator plaque
Tall caged loading structures at the former transfer station.
Former loading structures
Excavator tearing down the former transfer station, with piles of brick rubble, a roll-off dumpster, and the tall caged loading structures in the background.
Demolition of the former facility. Photo: Mike Smith, City of Paris

Photos of the new facility and of the former site after redevelopment will be added as they become available.

Milestone Timeline

  1. 1965

    • City Incinerator Built
  2. 2019

    • Paris West Side Neighborhood Association Founded
    • West Side Neighborhood Strategic Action Plan process begins
  3. 2021

    • Feasibility Study on Paris Waste Transfer Station Brownfield Site Redevelopment process begins
  4. 2022

    • Summer City works with Fiscal Court to use land and approves design team to prepare plans for a recycling center
    • Summer 300 residents participate in survey managed by citizen volunteers
    • Summer City receives the National Park Service Rivers Trails & Conservation Assistance grant
    • Fall City works with Bluegrass Area Development District to apply and is awarded $2M Community Development Block Grant
  5. 2023

    • Spring University of Kentucky Landscape Architecture class develops Master Plan for the site
    • February KDEP Brownfield Program completes Phase I ESA
    • February City submits EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure For Recycling Grant
    • February City submits TBA request to EPA Region 4
    • November City opens and rejects bids due to cost overrun
    • November Bluegrass Area Development District plans to submit EPA Assessment Coalition Grant
    • December Redesign work on Solid Waste and Recycling Convenience Center
  6. 2024

    • February Bids opened and awarded for Construction. City Commission approves issuing a General Obligation Bond to fund City portion
    • February EPA Region 4 authorizes to move forward on the TBA
    • March Contract signed for construction of new facility
    • March Meerkat Media, through Groundworks USA, films for Documentary on Project
    • April Ground Breaking ceremony
    • Complete a Phase II ESA of the site
    • City applies for Kentucky Brownfield Program Cleaner Commonwealth Fund (CCF)
    • City resubmits EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant
    • City request TAB Assistance
    • Fall City submits EPA Cleanup Grant Application
  7. 2025

    • Opening of Solid Waste and Recycling Convenience Center
    • May Former transfer station closes
  8. 2026

    • June EPA awards Bourbon County a $4 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant for the Revive Riverside Park Project
  9. Next

    • Implementation of Plans and Redevelopment
Paris, KY Pathway to Progress roadmap graphic. The timeline above has the same information as text. Open the full-size roadmap image in a new tab

Pathway to Progress roadmap

The original roadmap graphic. The timeline on this page has the same milestones as text, plus updates since the roadmap was made.

Community Film

The Transfer Station storyMeerkat Productions, in collaboration with Groundwork USA, produced a nine-minute film on the history of the Solid Waste Transfer Station and Incinerator. The film focuses on the community's determination to build a better future.Watch on Google Drive → (outside website, opens in a new tab)

Documents & Reports

The New Facility & the Former Site

New facility

The Paris Recycling & Waste Depot at 300 Thornberry Way handles recycling and transfer station services. Hours, accepted materials, and contacts are on the depot page.

Paris Recycling & Waste Depot →

Former site's next use

A University of Kentucky Landscape Architecture class developed a master plan for the site in 2023. In June 2026, EPA awarded Bourbon County a $4 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant for the site, now called the Revive Riverside Park Project. The County's grant application proposes a restored public park along Houston Creek and new senior housing. Plans are not final.

EPA grant announcement (outside website, opens in a new tab)

Project Contact

New facility questions

  • LocationParis Recycling & Waste Depot
  • HoursMonday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Project questions

  • AddressCity Hall, 525 High Street, Paris, KY 40361
  • HoursMonday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.