P.O. Box 20444
Indianapolis, IN 46220-0444
Not-For-Profit Corporation
Phone & Fax: 317-283-6226
e-mail address: [email protected]

March 1997

Newsletter Co-Editors:
Mark Davis and Julie L. Rhodes

City, Town & Community News

MARTIN COUNTY RECYCLING CENTER:

A Model Reuse and Recycling Center

by Mark W. Davis

"There has to be a way." This is the theme for Martin County Solid Waste Management District Director Laura Albertson. Through lots of hard work and perseverance, she and a dedicated solid waste board, have forged the creation of a model and economically viable recycling center one of Indiana's smallest and most economically challenged counties. They accomplished this feat despite original cost estimates for a facility far beyond the county's financial reach. The story of their success is a true example of the often quoted maxim: recycling pays.

THE BUILDING
The key to the success of the district's 10,000 square foot recycling facility is that its very construction was a model reuse program. Although the physical structure of the Martin County Recycling Center is new, thee majority of the material that went into the structure are reused materials. A full year before the structure's construction, the district began collecting the building materials that eventually went into the final project.

The district used three avenues for the collection of these materials:

Participation in the federal surplus material program--their primary source for lumber,

Donations or low-cost purchases of disused office equipment and building supplies from area businesses, and

Purchasing used processing equipment from other recycling facilities in their region.

The final result? A brand "new" recycling center at a fraction of the original estimated cost. "Our facility cost only 30% of the original estimates," Albertson proudly proclaims.

LUMBER
Laura Albertson (at the time, the district's only staff member), a dedicated board member and an occasional volunteer, made monthly treks to the neighboring Crane Naval Weapons Depot where they were able to sort through the tons of scrap lumber generated by the base. On a tour of the completed recycling facility, Albertson joyfully points out where this used lumber has been incorporated into the building structure. She stresses that even the nails were recycled in the scrap sorting process.

At a cost of $8 per trip, the district spent.a grand total of $80 on their scrap wood collection efforts, yet this wood makes up well over half of the wood used in the building's construction.

BUILDING.SUPPLIES
Many other building materials were also reused. The office and education center's carpet was salvaged from a local church. Dry wall, lights, water lines, tables, and chairs were all donated by businesses who- heard about their efforts. Even the center's kitchen sink was a reuse donation.

RECYCLING EQUIPMENT
Indiana's state recycling grants program assisted the center in the purchase of their recycling equipment. The center's equipment includes a used fork truck and a used horizontal baler, both purchased at a substantial savings. Martin County also purchased a new Bobcat and new vertical baler for the center.

CENTER OPERATIONS
The recycling center is designed for three functions:

a drive-thru drop-off center,
a processing facility, and
an education center.

Area residents and area businesses are able to drop-off their recyclable materials. The facility allows for efficient collection of the common line-up of recyclables: aluminum and steel cans, glass and plastic bottles, newspaper, office paper, magazines and corrugated cardboard boxes.

The facility has also allowed the district to expand their recycling efforts to items that are generally considered to be more difficult for a local collection program to recycle. Used motor oil, antifreeze, household batteries, appliances, scrap metal and clothing are also included in the center's line-up of recyclable materials accepted. In a county where "the nearest ditch" had been a popular disposal method for these materials, the center has become a preferred alternative.

Martin County has helped to reduce the cost of recycling these household hazardous products by participating in a regional collection program coordinated cooperatively by a number of southern Indiana solid waste districts. By participating in this program, the facility collected and recycled 1,600 gallons of used motor oil in their first eight months of operation.

REUSE AND RECYCLING
Do not mistake the center as merely a "recycling" center. Reuse is a major component of Martin County's operations. Wood pallets are accepted at the facility, and are immediately reused in the facility's processing area.

A local charity is also given "first pick" for clothing donations, prior to these items being baled for recycling. There is even a spot for prom and wedding dresses that have come to the center in good condition.

The drive-thru drop-off area also offers a "reuse" corner, where individuals can drop-off or take (free of charge) usable materials. Residents are encouraged to donate usable items that they previously would have thrown in the trash, and to take anything that would be of use to them. This free swap-shop has been very popular with residents. Local schools have also thanked the district for this beneficial program.

HELPING THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The center is operated by the Martin County Solid Waste Management District, a local unit of government created by the Indiana legislature in 1990. Both local business leaders and local government officials hail the benefits the solid waste district have brought to the community. The center provides a service to the-community that would not be available without this public initiative. Due to the rural and sparsely populated nature of the county, a recycling center of this kind was not attractive to private businesses providing these services.

A visit to the recycling center quickly demonstrates that the facility has become a source of community pride. Albertson--in addltion to being the local solid waste director--is the President of the local Chamber of Commerce and is clearly a respected community leader.

BENEFITS TO BUSINESS
Local businesses have seen a reduction in their waste disposal costs by implementing office paper and cardboard recycling programs.

A local scrap metal hauler, who handles the center's white goods, has benefited greatly from the center's central location and strong recognition in the community.

Several private trash and recyclable materials haulers have also benefited. These private businesses have been able to greatly reduce their transportation costs by utilizing the services of the recycling facility.

BENEFITS TO SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Local schools and government offices have also benefited from the recycling center. The district has provided all four of the local schools with a recycling trailer. Recyclables are collected in these trailers and transported to the recycling center weekly.

The center also benefits the schools by being a source of reusable supplies and a new educational opportunity--over 100 students and individuals per month are touring the facility.

Local government offices have also established recycling programs and thirteen local Post Offices in the area use the center for recycling.

MEASURABLE RESULTS
The recycling center opened May 23, 1996. In the ,first three months of operation the facility processed and marketed over 79 tons of recyclable materials. This volume has grown steadily. During the last three months of 1996 the center processed and marketed over 185 tons of material--excluding scrap metal and white goods recycling. This overwhelming success led to the district board approving the construction of a 3,000 square foot addition to t,he original building for additional storage. space. Albertson comment, "This center certainly has been extremely popular--there are many people recycling in Martin County these days."