Everything you need to know about recycling in Indianapolis. We encourage residents of the city to explore ways to reduce their consumption habits. Despite the fall in the market value of recycled materials due to the ban imposed by China, Indianapolis can take advantage of the higher-than-average rates offered by state manufacturers, according to Mitchell. Other groups, such as Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, the city's Office of Sustainability and the Indiana Recycling Coalition, have launched programs to educate citizens about recycling.
Indianapolis is the largest city in the United States without a universal sidewalk recycling program, according to The Indianapolis Star. To address this issue, several organizations in the area have started organizing recycling days, such as the Indianapolis Zoo's Energy Recycling Day. Although financial limitations have prevented other cities from developing a better recycling record, Star reporters revealed that the situation in Indianapolis was “a matter of policy”. Robinson says that Indianapolis hopes to implement a citywide sidewalk recycling program by 2025 and sees an urgent need to do so.
The ongoing trade war between the United States is one of the issues that affects the recycling problems of Indianapolis and other cities. To help with this, citizens can deliver recyclable items for free at several different locations in Indianapolis and Marion County. The city doesn't necessarily see its low recycling rate as a problem, but rather as an opportunity for Indianapolis to develop a program that fits its needs. Unfortunately, Indianapolis is still the largest city in the country without universal recycling on sidewalks, a fact that frustrates residents and confuses visitors.
The Indianapolis Thriving Schools Challenge is a green school certification program in Marion County for grades K-12. The Board can promote, fund and encourage programs that facilitate the development and implementation of waste reduction, reuse, and recycling in Indiana. The idea of reducing the amount of waste that goes to Indianapolis landfills came about as a result of the energy crisis of the 1970s. Unlike other cities that encouraged recycling by making it less expensive than waste disposal, Indianapolis charged more for recycling, which had the effect of reducing participation. It also played a role in discouraging the creation of a recycling program through the stipulations of the contract between the city of Indianapolis and Covanta.
Indianapolis is still the largest municipality in the country without a universal sidewalk recycling program.
