Indy Recycling Proposal Met With Mixed Emotions

Only about 10 percent of Indianapolis residents participate in the city’s recycling program.

Mayor Greg Ballard’s office says a proposal to extend a contract with Covanta Indianapolis can help bolster what is collected.

But, some environmentalists are concerned with the deal and are encouraging the city to commit more to curbside recycling.

Currently, all residential trash picked up in Indianapolis is taken to the Covanta trash incinerator on Harding Street where it is burned to generate steam energy. The company produces about 50 percent of steam used for heating and cooling in the city.

Now, James Regan with Covanta says plans are underway to build a roughly $45 million facility to sort out recyclables before trash goes to the incinerator.

"It'll use some of the most advanced technology available out there.  So, very mechanical, lots of censors, magnets, and a number of technology advancements to make it possible to recover and separate the recyclable materials from your trash."

And Mayor Ballard’s spokesman Marc Lotter thinks the project is an opportunity for the city to increase recycling.

"This is a chance for us to reclaim material from the approximately 90 percent of people who currently don't take advantage of any of the existing recycling programs," said Lotter.  "Right now, the city recycles about 13,000 tons of materials a year and once this facility is up and running, they expect it to go to about 65,000 tons."

More recyclables means more revenue from the sale of those materials and once Covanta recoups its initial investment, it will begin sharing a percentage of the revenue with the city.

Regan says he does not know how long that will take or what percentage the city will receive.

But, not everyone is as enthusiastic about the new facility.

Executive Director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition Carey Hamilton says the city is blowing a chance to do better.

"When you sort recyclables out of trash, you lose a lot of materials to contamination and some of what you are able to reclaim is of a lower quality.  So, that's really damaging to recycling markets," said Hamilton.  "Long term, there would clearly be cost savings to handling that material separate from Covanta."

Instead, she wants the city to expand its curbside service.  Right now, residents pay $6 a month for recycling.

Hamilton says the expense deters people from participating.

"Recycling works when it's conveniently provided for everyone and when folks understand how to use it," she said.  "So, if you provide the cart and give people the tools to understand what can go into that cart, by in large they will use it.  Not everyone will do so, but enough people such that the resulting recovery will be must higher than what Covanta proposes."

Lotter says the city has looked at expanding curbside service for years, but has never received a proposal that won’t cost more.

He says the Covanta deal comes will no additional expenses.

And Regan says with participation in the city already low, having Covanta collect and sort the materials increases what is recycled.

"We get 100 percent participation right off the bat.  We're able to recover all of those materials that weren't recoverable before," he said.  "We are planning on increasing the recycling rate up to five times immediately and we will be able to recover large amounts of recyclable materials.  So, compared to what is currently happening, compared to an expanded curbside program, we think this technology will do wonders in increasing recycling productivity."

Part of the proposed new contract is eliminating penalties the city pays if not enough trash is collected. Lotter says that will save the city about $500,000 a year.

The city is in the process of finalizing the agreement with Covanta. It does not need city county council approval, but must be approved by the Board of Public Works. Regan says if approved, construction is expected to take 16 to 18 months.