Dive Brief:
- Noblesville has become the first city in Indiana to offer the "Simple Recycling" free curbside recycling program, enabling a way to dispose of clothing, bedding and other small household items with the city receiving $0.01 for each pound it collects. This is the city’s second curbside recycling program.
- Around 10% of the items end up in local thrift stores, 70% to 80% go to brokers in developing countries, and the 10% that can’t be used in its current form is turned into insulation, industrial rags, and bedding.
- Large household items such as mattresses, dishwashers, washers, and dryers will not be collected through Simple Recycling.
Dive Insight:
The city’s decision to launch Indiana’s first free recycling program comes on the heels of an argument on whether that state’s districts should have a role in recycling or turn it over to the private sector.
Noblesville views this initiative as a worthy cause to be involved in, not only to spare landfills, but to see that one person’s trash is purposeful rather than burdensome — being put to use where it’s needed.
"There are a lot of items you can’t donate, for example that pair of shoes with the soles falling off or … the torn draperies. This is your chance to get those out of the landfills and have them recycled," said Amy Shankland, community engagement coordinator for the city of Noblesville.
