Resolve to recycle

In an effort to quench growing piles of front-yard waste, the Indiana Public Interest Research Group has proposed "Party Pickup." The team will consist of volunteers who will collect excess bags of cans and bottles left over after weekend parties.\nBloomington's five largest apartment complexes (The University Commons, College Mall Apartments, Hoosier Courts, Colonial Crest and Varsity Villas) will be the focal point of the program.\nIt is an admirable effort, and if successful, it will be an important step toward removing recyclable materials from trash cans to recycling centers.\nBut the perplexing issue is why "Party Pickup" is needed. Although Bloomington is almost as eco-friendly as cities can come, it has no permanent recycling programs existing for off-campus apartment buildings.\n The city does have five drop-off locations, with the main facility located on South Walnut Street. It also has a bi-weekly curbside recycling program in place, although a city ordinance limits the city to collecting recyclables from single-family houses. Apartment waste disposal is handled by private companies.\n Recently, most private recycling programs have faltered. Most residents don't know where they should put their recyclables, or have been misplacing non-recyclable materials into bins (once 10 percent of the bin is non-recyclable, it is considered contaminated, and the whole bin must be thrown away).\n Although the city of Bloomington is concerned, no immediate solutions are on the horizon. Long-term goals, such as apartment complexes built with recycling in mind, won't be useful until many years down the road. The city needs to start working now, but they have current concerns with equipment, funds and extra labor force. \nChristina Fulton, with Bloomington's Public Works Department, says the city would like to promote recycling in apartment complexes, but there isn't much they can realistically do. Melissa Kriegerfox, with the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District, says recycling will only work in apartment complexes if there is a commitment from the management.\nINPIRG has stepped up with a new idea that will not completely solve the problems related to recycling, but will certainly help it. Bloomington should also do its part and fulfill its responsibility by stepping up as well. \nWe suggest the first barrier the city should address is the ordinance which limits the city's ability to collect recyclables. After all, the city won't be able to help the apartment complexes and take away the recyclables until they have mobility to do so.\nThe process to implement recycling into apartments is undoubtedly difficult -- more so than some people imagine. But it isn't an easy out for a city which should stay on track with its pro-environment message and at least begin to lay the foundation for a permanent apartment recycling program.\nINPIRG has done its part, and they have gotten the ball rolling. The city of Bloomington shouldn't stand idly by and make INPIRG do it by itself.