This year Pollution Prevention Week will provide companies with more assistance, ideas, networking opportunities, and resources than ever before. On September 23, the Indiana Partners for Pollution Prevention will host the "First Annual Indiana P2 Conference and Trade Show: P2 Technologies at Work" to benchmark the 1998 P2 Week observance. The event will be held from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM at the Valle Vista Conference Center, 755 E. Main Street, Greenwood, IN.

David Kling, EPA Director of Pollution Prevention, will keynote this interactive program. Award-winning Indiana manufacturers will present their successful in-process P2 methodologies, and provide insights for breaking through barriers to P2 implementation. Noted P2 experts will team up to relate their hands-on experiences and highlight emerging technologies for creating a sustainable future. Functional exhibits will provide an opportunity for vendors and manufacturers to display and showcase their products and to facilitate technology transfer for successful P2 innovations.

The Indiana Partners for Pollution Prevention was formed in 1996, as a consortium of winners of Governor's Awards for Excellence in Pollution Prevention, and recipients of Pollution Prevention Challenge Grants. The group meets regularly to discuss P2 issues and explore ways to carry the P2 message to other Indiana businesses.

For further information regarding the "First Annual Indiana P2 Conference and Trade Show: P2 Technologies at Work" contact Alice Smith, Indiana Clean Manufacturing Technology and Safe Materials Institute, Tel: 765-463-4749, Fax: 765-463-3795, or Charles Sullivan, IDEM, Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance, Tel: 317-232-8174, Fax: 317-233-5627.

A HUGE THANK YOU!!! to all of the IRC and IDEM volunteers and the planning committee for making the Buy Recycled Booth at the Indiana State Fair such a wonderful success! The booth, co-sponsored by the Coalition, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's OPPTA, the Indiana Department of Commerce Energy Policy Division, and Planergy's Home Appliance Recycling Center, showed many different types of products and packaging made from recycled materials. Many people were surprised to see the variety, quality and quantity of recycled content items that are available in today's market places. In addition to the storefront displays, there were numerous fact sheets and a new IDEM brochure further describing how Hoosiers can "buy recycled", and a video explaining why buying recycled is important to sustainable recycling.

Many organizations, including several solid waste management districts and businesses, were involved in donating or loaning items for the booth. Faerber's Bee Window loaned two bay window frames, and the Glass Packaging Institute donated glass-packaged beverages for booth staff. Planergy staff, headed up by Jim Parker, donated set-up space, personnel to help set-up the heavy items, and woodworking expertise to finish the display. Al Melvin, Nicole McDermid and Janet Fox Neltner worked on painting the window-display backdrops. Cathy Bastin and the America Recycles Day Committee worked to obtain product and literature samples from districts, along with supplying ARD pledge cards. Sarah Carney, from the Indiana Department of Commerce, arranged for the booth signage. Carla Barrett, Amanda Hennessey, Nicole McDermid, Janet Fox Neltner, and Cindy Daily helped to tag and arrange the items in the displays. IDEM and IRC volunteers staffed the booth, which ran from August 12-23. Truly, this booth was a cooperative effort to spread the buy-recycled message.

Look for great things to happen from a new, national, non-profit organization called Reuse Development Organization (ReDO). The new Executive Director, Julie Rhodes, brings her extensive experience as Manager of the Recycling Market Development Program for the Indiana Department of Commerce to this important leadership position.

Reuse supports national environmental and community development objectives by assisting low-income people in getting the food, building materials, and general items they need. Reuse also provides individuals and businesses an alternative to disposal of unneeded items that could have value to others.

To reach Julie and learn more about the Reuse Development Organization contact: ReDO, Box 441363, Indianapolis, IN 46244. The phone number is 317-631-5395.

More than 13 million automobiles didn't drive into the landfill. More than 46 million appliances moved out of the basement. And, more than 5.5 billion cans avoided the trash can, all thanks to steel recycling efforts in 1997. Increasing consumer awareness and availability of recycling options helped recycling rates for automobiles, appliances, and steel packaging continue steady growth in 1997, according to the Pittsburgh-based Steel Recycling Institute (SRI).

This year marks the tenth anniversary of SRI and they are continuing to work to develop new options for steel recycling, targeting markets such as food service packaging, tire wire scrap, oil filter recycling, and a new focus on the building markets to promote steel and other "green" products in residential construction, says Bill Heenen, president of SRI.

Check out SRI's redesigned website at www.recycle-steel.org or call the SRI national hotline at 800-YES-1-CAN (937-1226) for detailed information about the recycling of steel products.

Several years ago the city of Seymour began a Seymour Transit program at the request of several senior citizens who did not drive, but needed an inexpensive ride to places in Seymour, like the doctor, the bank, or the grocery store. At that time there was no taxi service in Seymour, and those persons wanting to remain independent had to resort to asking relatives, neighbors or friends for a ride when necessary. Transit service now operates from 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM Monday through Saturday, and the number to call for a ride is 812-522-RIDE (522-7433).

On July 14th, the city announced plans for a new concept for the transit service, "Recycle to Ride", whereby riders can pay for their rides using recyclables such as aluminum cans or plastic milk cartons. A new 12-passenger transit bus, with room for two wheelchair passengers, has been ordered and will arrive in early October. This bus is being specially made and will have two recycle bins behind the driver where passengers can place the recycled items they bring to board the bus.

Anyone who does not wish to recycle can still ride the bus at the same low rates now charged: $2.50 for immediate service; $2.00 for rides scheduled 24 hours in advance with a 50-cent discount for senior citizens or handicapped persons. Children accompanied by an adult may ride for half fare.

The bus will be a rolling billboard emphasizing the need for recycling. Recyclable materials do have value, and this will be demonstrated by using recycled products to actually pay for a ride. The new "Recycle to Ride" bus will be purchased with a grant of $64,500 from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the transit service is maintained by the City of Seymour and the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Martha McIntire, Transit Coordinator, stated, "We are really excited about this new idea in transportation. Our present transit system will remain operational until the new bus arrives, but I'm sure there will be many people who are willing to recycle and receive a direct benefit for doing so. As far as we know, this is the only system of its kind in the entire United States, and it may prove to be a model to other communities in their effort to both promote recycling and provide a needed ride service to the citizens." For more information, please call 812-522-4020.

The Seymour Chamber of Commerce together with the City of Seymour and the Jackson County Solid Waste District will host a "Ride to Recycle" bicycle ride to raise funds to support recycling efforts in Jackson County. The ride will take place in some of Southern Indiana's most beautiful country. The ride will begin at 9:00 AM on September 26, 1998 starting from the National Guard Armory in Freeman Field off Highway 50 in Seymour. All funds raised from "Ride to Recycle" will be used to purchase recycling bins and educational materials. Coca-Cola will provide sports drinks and bottled water to all riders, and restroom facilities will be available at one of the four rest stops. Red Cross volunteers and a sag wagon will also be on hand. Protective helmets are encouraged.

There will be three ride distances to choose from: 20-mile, 43-mile, and 62-miles. Pre-registration fee is $10 with the pre-registration deadline being 9/10/98. If you choose to participate the day of the ride the cost will be $12 per rider. T-shirts will be available for $10. If you would like more information on the "Ride to Recycle", please contact the Seymour Chamber of Commerce at 812-522-3681. The Chamber of Commerce is taking entry applications.

EPA publications regarding Innovative Uses of Compost are found in October, 1997 publications numbered EPA530-F-97-042 through EPA530-F-046 at www.epa.gov/osw (click on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Topics are:

• Bioremediation and Pollution Prevention
• Erosion Control, Turf Remediation, and Landscaping
• Disease Control for Plants and Animals
• Composting of Soils Contaminated by Explosives
• Reforestation, Wetlands, Restoration, and Habitat Revitalization

Publication number EPA530-R-98-008 from April, 1998 at www.epa.gov/osw reveals 'An Analysis of Composting As An Environmental Remediation Technology'. Applications analyzed include remediation of soils contaminated with toxic organic compounds; compost-based biofilters for treatment of contaminated air and wastewater streams; potential for reclamation of mine spoils and brownfields with compost; suppression of plant diseases/pest control with compost; compost-enhanced photoremediation of contaminated soil; and development of special-purpose composts.