City, campus celebrate America Recycles Day

People drove pedicabs through Bloomington and across the IU campus Friday,
collecting plastic recyclables and promoting environmental awareness in celebration of America Recycles Day. 

The pedicabs, tricycles with cabs that served as human-powered mobile recycling bins, were part of the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Make it Possible Campaign.

“Plastics Make it Possible is a campaign that educates consumers about how plastics are sustainable,” said Jennifer Killinger, senior director of sustainability and public outreach for the American Chemistry Council.

The campaign launched a total of 30 mobile recycling bins in six cities across the United States to raise awareness of America Recycles Day.

“Access to recycling has expanded, and consumers can now recycle more types of plastic,” Killinger said. “Our goal is to increase awareness.” 

Killinger said there are two streams of plastic recycling.

The first is the stream that most local programs accept. It includes rigid plastic containers like beverage bottles and shampoo containers.

The other stream is for flexible plastics like wrappings for bulk snacks and napkins, as well as plastic bags from the grocery store.

These flexible plastics belong in a separate recycling stream that is usually collected at grocery stores.

Killinger said Bloomington was chosen to receive the pedicab promotion for two reasons.

“We chose Bloomington not only for its great recycling program but also because of the college campus,” Killinger said. “It’s a fun way for students to interact.”

Freshman Jay Rodgers said he knows it is important to recycle and reuse resources instead of just wasting them.

“If I see a bin, I’ll use it,” Rodgers said.

Laura Walter, administrative assistant at the Kelley School of Business, said it is important to be aware of the effect people can have on their environment.

“At the Kelley School, our recycling bins are larger than our trash bins,” Walter said.
Bloomington and Monroe County continue to increase resources to make recycling easier for residents.

Elisa Pokral, media and education director for the Monroe County Indiana Solid Waste Management District, said the district has expanded its services since January.

The district now offers free electronics recycling at all centers and has extended operation of its rural recycling centers to five days a week, Pokral said.

“Monroe County is lucky to have the district,” Pokral said. “Many communities don’t have resources to offer these programs.”

The district also offers safe recycling of hazardous materials at its South Walnut
facility.

“Hazardous materials like pharmaceuticals, paints and batteries shouldn’t be thrown in the trash because they can cause problems at landfills by seeping into the soil, water and air,” Pokral said.

The district also collects items at its reuse center for non-profit organizations.
The girl scouts, 4-H clubs and other community groups can get materials they can use for science projects and crafts at the reuse center, Pokral said

“It’s up to the public to take advantage of the services available in Monroe County,” Pokral said. “It all starts with individuals who can teach their neighbors and lead by example.”