Indiana State University now has a little extra cash to promote recycling.Duke Energy, the largest electricity supplier in Indiana, awarded ISU a $15,000 grant Wednesday to promote recycling education.
Teaching about the benefits of recycling has “become a rather large part of our responsibility,” said Paul Reed, manager of the Recycle Center on North Ninth Street.
The Duke Energy grant will be used to purchase educational materials and also will offset the cost of renovating a visitors classroom at the recycling facility.
Several area elementary schools and even university classes take guided tours of the ISU Recycle Center each year, Reed noted. Last year, about 18,000 people visited the facility, he said.
Awarding the grant meets the “grandchild” test, said Duke Energy Indiana west area district manager Rick Burger on Wednesday. The grant will be used to help make the environment and the world a better place for our children and grandchildren, he said.
“I would challenge other corporations to get on board with ISU and try to make other things happen,” Burger said.
Since opening for business in 1990, the ISU Recycle Center at 447 N. Ninth St. has managed to save “well over $1 million in landfill fees” because of recycling, Reed said, adding that in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the Recycle Center collected more than 1.5 million pounds of materials.
The ISU Recycle Center operates three drive-through lanes that are open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. With the exception of television sets, there is no charge for dropping off items, Reed said. ISU encourages the use of Goodwill Industries of the Wabash Valley for those wishing to drop off a television. Goodwill does not charge a fee for television recycling.
The ISU Recycle Center will accept paper, metal cans, glass, plastics and electronic scrap. For a complete listing, visit the facility’s website, www.indstate.edu/facilities/recycle.
Source : tribstar.com
