It may be slow in coming, and some may question whether the City is overcompensating with some rather large bins, but have no doubt: the curbside recycling program is back in New Orleans. Despite initial rumors to the contrary, it appears here to stay. 

Recycling bins are already being delivered so we can finally reinstate curbside recycling! Those of us who care about the Earth can now sit back and rejoice, right? Not quite - or so we thought. Even as the containers that will easily fit household recyclables, as well as the household toddler, were being distributed, a rumor began circulating this week around the Internet and, undoubtedly, real life. The long sought program would be cancelled if the city didn't have enough households signed up, the whispers went. Mongers feared only 12,000 people are signed up, and the city needed 20,000.

Curbside recycling is set to return! Well, almost. The start date got pushed back about 45 days. But, by then we'll all have a bin and be good to go, right? Sort of. To make sure there are no more disputes over how many houses the garbage companies are collecting from, everyone who wants recycling service has to sign up with the City. In advance of the May 2 start date, the City began distributing fliers (pictured) that residents in the designated areas (Sorry, Quarter rats) can fill out the flier. For those more inclined to use the Interweb, http://recycle.nola.gov is the spot.

First a seemingly unattainable dream, then an outpouring of hope and change without substance, the city's curbside recycling program is beginning to take shape. It's just taking a little while. Originally slated for mid-March, the start date for the program is now pushed back to May 1. The new won't look like the old, either. The Lens reports the city is in the market for 64 gallon carts to take recyclables, instead of the smaller bins that were a sidewalk staple before K.

In a place where the collective experience of parades, boomer musician curtain calls, and Cape Verdean storm systems already occupy a huge portion of private life, the events of the past year caused all New Orleanians to speak with a single guttural noise. From Causeway to Gulf, there rang out a booming “Who Dat” as the little football team that a few people pay attention to gave us deliverance.