Originally published in Indiana Living Green.

Lilly Bolsters IRC Program

Through a generous donation of 9,000 recycling bins from Eli Lilly the Indiana Recycling Coalition can do even more to help Indiana schools implement recycling programs and other sustainable practices. The new Bins For Schools program now has the resources to spread bins to schools across Indiana, teaching students of all ages about the importance of waste management and sustainability.

A fundamental issue for starting recycling programs in schools, parks, festivals and just about any public space is the need for infrastructure like these designated recycling bins. As one of Indiana’s largest employers and the 10th largest pharmaceutical company in the world, Eli Lilly’s recent reconfiguration of waste and recycling systems granted the Indiana Recycling Coalition with an amount that can make a difference.

“This grant of bins is a huge benefit to our new K-12 outreach efforts,” Carey Hamilton, Indiana Recycling Coalition’s executive director, said. “This is a new statewide initiative for us, and to have staff and resources to provide to schools is really exciting.”

Hamilton hopes to inspire schools and students to compete nationally in the annual Recycle Bowl Competition, a playful competition to collect the most recyclable waste. Participation in the tournament would set a school’s new recycling program in a structure, with incentive to continue and the ability to track progress and use. The need for these school recycling programs is so great that the Indiana Recycling Coalition has hired a staff member to spend most of their time helping schools with the program.

Schools can use the organization’s online application to obtain bins and anyone can learn more by contacting Indiana Recycling Coalition program director Annie Hostetter at [email protected].