Neighbors said the facility is detrimental to their quality of life. Residents who live approximately 70 to 100 yards behind the center said it's noisy, sometimes smelly and a risk to students and others.

Residents want the facility moved somewhere else.

Chesterfield's mayor, city council and two state lawmakers have urged the district to close up shop by June 1.

Recycling in Parkway began as a classroom project in the mid-1990s. The center was opened in 2005. Plastic, aluminum cans and cardboard are compacted here and later sold to recycling companies.

Ward One City Councilman Matt Segal said it's time for Parkway to outsource the recycling operation. However, Superintendent Malito said the district would lose too much money during hard economic times.

District officials said the center is safe. And while they'll consider another location, it won't be moving any time soon.