Recycling and Re-using Trash Become Partners

The concept of recycling in many localities has evolved into a partnership between recycling facilities and re-use centers where unwanted items that are still useable are made available to residents who have a need for them. In Ripley County, Indiana, a re-use center has been opened at the recycling facility operated by the Southeastern Indiana Solid Waste District at the Ripley County Highway Garage on S.R. 421 near Osgood.

The premise is that, if one person does not want an item that still can be used, there is probably someone who has a need for it. In other words, if it could be sold at a yard sale, it probably could be given away free. Residents can discard things that they no longer need and get items that they can use instead. If someone's lamp is broken, he or she can probably find a working one at the re-use center. It is a win-win situation for everyone, including the environment.

Useable items include household appliances, electronics, computers, lawn mowers, housewares, books in good condition, bicycles, toys and even paint that has not been thinned, contaminated or frozen. Potentially hazardous or torn and dirty items are not acceptable. If someone is looking for an item that is not available, he/she fills out an exchange board card. When the item is brought in, they will be notified.

There are no income limits and no paperwork. Rules are posted at the facility. The re-use center is modeled after others that have been in operation for a while, especially the one in Bloomington, Indiana. According to the manager of the center, this is an idea that could work anywhere with minimum cost.

The opening day ribbon cutting ceremony held on July 14 included a raffle of items made from recycled products, such as park benches and bird feeders made from discarded plastic milk bottles.

Much has changed since the introduction of recycling plastic, glass and paper more than twenty years ago in Ripley County. The impact on the environment from the growing amount of garbage taken to existing landfills was the incentive residents needed to find more creative ways to limit its disposal of trash. Recycling and re-using items not only postpones their inevitable disposal, but it also will make people aware of the need to limit as much as possible the amount of rubbish we generate.

Currently, racetracks and playgrounds are being covered with recycled tires and other material to reduce the number of injuries to horses in the former and to children in the latter. Creating items from discarded plastic and glass bottles has become a new industry in many areas of the country. Recycled paper has become the only type of paper used by many companies.

Methane gas has been captured in one area of Jefferson County to fuel kilns used in producing art objects such as pottery and plaques. A future objective of this project is to be able to produce enough methane gas to be used by other small businesses in the area.

There are more ways than one for people to prove the old adage, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

Learn more about this author, Barbara Jachimiak.
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