8/29/2006
Media Contact:
Ericka Wheeler, 327.7868 |
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City launches comprehensive recycling program,
INDIANAPOLIS - Today, Deputy Mayor Steve Campbell, Kumar Menon, director of the Department of Public Works and others announced the launch of Recycle Indianapolis and the kick-off of the Downtown Recycling Initiative.
Recycle Indianapolis is a new, comprehensive program designed to broaden recycling participation in Indianapolis through increased awareness and education by promoting ease of use, waste reduction and environmental responsibility through personal, neighborhood and citywide opportunities.
“The goal of Recycle Indianapolis is to change the attitude, behavior and understanding of recycling in Indianapolis by the general public, industries and schools as well as encourage active participation in source reduction, reuse and recycling of solid waste and other materials,” said Menon. “This program compliments our increasing efforts to position Indianapolis as an environmentally healthy community that is a leader in responsibly using our energy and natural resources.”
Recycling is the reprocessing of used materials that would otherwise become waste in order to break them down and remake them into new products. Recycling conserves natural and economic resources, prevents waste from being sent to the landfill, reduces pollution and the consumption of new raw materials, and is advocated by supporters to require less energy than virgin production.
“The launch of Recycle Indianapolis begins a year-long dialogue we will have with the community to determine the perceptions, benefits and barriers to recycling. We want the public to help us design a viable program that will be utilized by all Indianapolis/Marion County residents,” said Campbell.
Currently, approximately 12% of the 254,579 homes in Marion County eligible for curbside recycling subscribe to the service. To preclude the city from subsidizing curbside recycling, participation must increase. Curbside service is available for approximately $5 per month but costs the city $8.57 per week for collection and processing of the recyclable materials.
DPW will host monthly Town Hall meetings in each township beginning in October, 2006. The meetings will be open to the public and are intended to promote a discussion on the current and future state of recycling in Indianapolis.
In addition to the launch of Recycle Indianapolis, DPW kicked-off the Downtown Recycling Initiative in partnership with Waste Management and Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.
Decorative recycling containers supplied by Waste Management have been placed in five strategic downtown Indianapolis locations to promote aluminum and plastic recycling among residents, businesses and tourists: NW corner of Ohio and Meridian; NW Corner of Illinois and Washington; NE corner of Georgia and Capitol; NE corner of Meridian and Maryland; and NW corner of Delaware and Washington.
"Downtown Indianapolis has long been touted as one of the cleanest in the nation," said Anne Maschmeyer, beautification manager for Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. "This new recycling program is yet another effort that will contribute to Downtown's clean and green image."
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