Indianapolis Re-launches Curbside Recycling Program

I find it ironic that an article about relaunching the recycling program doesn't provide a web site for me to sign up for curbside service. (The KIBI link doesn't seem to mention anything about curbside options.) Is Indy's fee-based curbside service the same as Republic's (which I currently use) or is Republic a private service? If so, what's the difference between Republic and the city curbside service? No wonder they're having problems getting people on board.

In my sister's town, recycling is free, but you have to pay a fee-per-bag for garbage (they're special blue bags that you have to buy from the township). That program seems to provide the best incentives for robust recycling and the reduction of trash, since you have to pay for what you throw away. Maybe that's too difficult to enforce in a larger metropolitan area, and would contribute to illegal dumping.

Still, I'm sure if they made curbside free and handed out bins, they would get far superior compliance rates - high enough that maybe they could turn a profit instead of leaking money.

The fact that "there's no way to enforce it" pretty much says that "there's no way to make money at it". When I lived in Lansing, we had a setup similar to Bloomington. We paid for city trash bags at the grocery store and the city would ONLY pick up city bags. Recycling was free, or next to it. It makes sense all the way around.

(317) 327-4MAC (4622)
Tis is te number to te Mayor's Action Hotline to subscribe for curbside recycling.

Sorry there was something wrong with my H in the previous post.

I don't purchase recycling services because I can deliver my recyclables to free bins around the city. A number of people I know do the same. Ironically, some of those bins have disappeared despite their heavy use.

I support and applaud a move to require payment for disposal of non-recyclables partnered with free recycling pick-up.

akh

Actually, with this re-launch they've started taking more items, including glass.

Five of us families here in Fountain Square decided to do this together to send a message that recycling should be more comprehensive. I can understand not paying and agree that there are better ways, but it seems that paying $5 is a good way to show how widespread support is for recycling.

It'd be a shame if the mayor's office looked at the numbers, say 10 people using the program, and swore off recycling for the rest of his tenure.

Actually, with this re-launch they've started taking more items, including glass.

Five of us families here in Fountain Square decided to do this together to send a message that recycling should be more comprehensive. I can understand not paying and agree that there are better ways, but it seems that paying $5 is a good way to show how widespread support is for recycling.

It'd be a shame if the mayor's office looked at the numbers, say 10 people using the program, and swore off recycling for the rest of his tenure.

Why do we spend so much money trying to impress visitors with stadiums and conventions centers when its clear to most people from any other major city in the world just how behind the times we really are? Recycling is nearly absent. Its absurd and in 2006 its inexcusable.

I applaud the Mayor's desire to help us clear up our excess of tree leafs.
Some folks in my neighborhood however, are burning their leafs at night...and possibly burning other trash with the leafs, as well. Is this legal.
Case in point, last evening around 7:30 pm, my garage and attic were filled with smoke. It was coming from some neighbor's backyard burning. In the past, a major burner is located right across the street from the FIRE DEPARTMENT on the southside at Stop 11 Road and Sherman. The smoke drifts over to our neighborhood just north of them. It really pollutes the air for everyone.
Aren't they supposed to stop neighborhood burning? They weren't busy last night, so they could have traced the source of burning if they went for a drive around the neighborhood. What can be done?

I believe that burning (both leaves and other materials) is legal under certain circumstances -- you have to follow fire codes about how to do the burning and when, but it is legal. The curbside leaf pickup is going on now, but it's only suggested, not mandatory. Just like it's not illegal to throw your trash away rather than recycling, you can burn your leaves instead of bagging them for the city to take away. It's better to recycle and better to bag the leaves, of course, but not everyone does.

What about garbage being weighed? That would get more people recycling. The recylcing would not be weighed. Recycling also needs to include more plastics. In our town we have to use the same provided cans which an arm on the truck picks up. It seems that a scale could easily be added to the arm but knowing who's can is who's is more the problem, but I think that couls be worked out. Possibly barcoded cans for the address.

Also, in my town burning is legal! I can't believe it!

I am a college student, and live in Broadripple, a HUGE college age demographic area. Generally speaking, college kids in Broadripple like beer. I cannot begin to tell you how much waste college kids produce worth of bottles and cans. If you have been in college you know. My friends from Purdue save all of their cans to take them to Michigan for money in exchange. What an incentive for a college kid to drive from Lafayette, Indiana to Michigan to exchange recyclable goods for money. I recycle my cans and bottles, but that means driving to the nearest recycling drop off and no financial return. Michigan is a little out of the way for me. Not many people do recycle in Indiana because it means bagging the cans and what not, and driving to a drop off point. Unfortunately, America is all about convenience, especially for a college student. Its hard enough to get up for class, and work a job and then remember to recycle at my nearest drop point. For being on one of Indy's busiest Northside streets, living around so much night life, you would truly think the city would do a recycling service that was more convenient and affordable for this demographic. People my age love things that are quick and easy (and cheap). Hence, texting via cell phone, flexible hours with food joints, and anything that your able to do online. Why would the city not put an online service for recycling on their "waste management" website. Lame..."Waste Management". Reaaaaalllly managing our city's waste really well. Here is my solution.
Use all the money they are raking in from indy's insane property tax, pay a guy to set up an adequate recycling web page that is not 10 years old, charge people for their waste (not recycling...HELLLLLOOOO???), and stop ignoring the fact that Indiana is contributing to a big part of our nation's polluting problem.
Not to sound like I just watched An Inconvenient Truth (which I did), but I think this is a very prevalent issue that young people my age need to grasp and continue to act on and be aware of during our lifetime for our future college students.
Start and website where we can sign up online. SOOOO MUCH EASIER. No one wants to hang on the phone on hold to talk to an operator. Stop being lazy, and maybe your public will as well.

Katie,

Sounds like you are on to something here. I pay about $20 every few months for Waste Management to pick up my recyclables. If there are other like-minded individuals willing to throw some money at this problem, there may be a business opportunity here.

Would you be willing to pay someone a few bucks a month to take your recyclables?

I would like to participate in the program

I would also like to participate in this program!!

i am paying to recycle..... why dont i pay for the trash... it only seems logical... more peeps would recycle

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