The Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC) has requested the full reinstatement of Indiana’s dedicated recycling fund, 90% of which was frozen in 2009 due to a state budget crisis that is now behind us.
For Immediate Release:
March 19, 2013
For more information, contact:
Indiana Recycling Coalition
Carey Hamilton, Executive Director
317-632-5915
E-mail: [email protected]
Coalition Requests Reinstatement of Dedicated Recycling Fund
Indianapolis, IN. The Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC) has requested the full reinstatement of Indiana’s dedicated recycling fund, 90% of which was frozen in 2009 due to a state budget crisis that is now behind us.
“It is time to bring back these important grant funds which are designed to invest in Indiana’s recycling infrastructure. From grants to Indiana’s manufacturers for processing equipment or to community collection and public education programs, investing these dollars will result in significant economic activity while providing programs that Hoosiers want,” said Carey Hamilton, Executive Director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition.
In January, the IRC sent this funding reinstatement request letter signed by business, industry and trade groups to the Governor. Today, the IRC met with Senator Kenley, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to make the same request.
The business coalition that has rallied around this effort is impressive. For example, Alcoa, a global aluminum manufacturer with more than 3,200 employees in Indiana was an early advocate of reinstating the recycling fund. “Alcoa strongly supports this request to reinstate Indiana’s recycling fund. Recycling is both an environmental and business priority for our company. We believe that new investments in recycling programs and infrastructure will result in higher aluminum recycling rates which, in turn will save energy, save resources and create jobs,” said Beth Schmitt, Director of Recycling for Alcoa.
When it comes to glass production, Indiana is second only to California and our glass processors and manufacturers, as well as fiberglass insulation manufacturers, fully support an increase in state funding for recycling. According to Stephen A. Segebarth, Senior Vice President of Muncie-headquartered Verallia NA, the nation’s second largest glass container manufacturer, “For both environmental and economic reasons, recycled glass-which we call ‘cullet’-is our preferred feedstock. Unfortunately, today we have to transport cullet to our Dunkirk, Indiana plant from as far away as Canada and Iowa because so few glass containers used in Indiana are recycled.”
Perpetual Recycling Solutions, a new post-consumer plastics processing company in Richmond, Indiana, and a state recycling grant recipient, has also expressed strong support for this request. According to company CEO, David Bender, “In 2011, Perpetual Recycling Solutions leveraged a $50,000 recycling grant along with a $30 million investment in a new PET plastic processing facility in Richmond. We have already created 75 jobs and hope to expand. However, expansion requires Indiana to capture more of its PET plastic feedstock - more than one billion of PET soda and water bottles along with 250 million PET plastic salad bowls, fruit containers and cups that today are going into Indiana’s landfills.”
In its funding request, the IRC notes that recycling is a jobs engine. A 2011 study from the Tellus Institute determined that increasing the nation’s recycling rate from 33% to 75% by 2030 would create 1.5 million new jobs. “Only with strategic economic development investments in recycling infrastructure and programs can we hope to fully realize this job creation potential for Indiana,” said Carey Hamilton.
About the Indiana Recycling Coalition
The Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that was formed in 1989 to support waste reduction, reuse, composting and recycling activities in Indiana. The IRC’s members include state and local governments, business, industry, not-for-profits and individuals. Visit the IRC website at www.indianarecycling.org.
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Indiana Recycling Coalition, Inc. | 708 East Michigan Street | Indianapolis, IN 46202
ph 317.632.5915 or 877.283.9550
fax 317.682.4746
