On Saturday, residents flocked to 4 city parks to drop off cardboard, Christmas trees and old electronics
Hundreds of Indianapolis residents officially said goodbye to the holidays Saturday by participating in a citywide recycling effort.A steady stream of cars filled the Broad Ripple Park parking lot — Ellenberger, Garfield and Krannert parks were the other sites — to drop off Christmas trees, cardboard boxes and old electronics during a four-hour post-holiday recycling event.“Everyone wants to do the right thing to help the environment,” said Karen Haley, director of the city’s Office of Sustainability. “This type of event gives them that opportunity and the satisfaction of knowing that these things are being disposed of properly.”This is the only time during the year that we offer this many recycling options in one place. It really is a one-stop shop.“Stacks of fir trees were being shredded on site by the Department of Public Works, which will reuse the remains as mulch this spring.In another area, Workforce Inc., an electronic waste recycling company contracted by the city, collected piles of VCRs, computer equipment, televisions and cell phones.Gregg Keesling, president of the company, said every piece and part, from the hard plastic to the small computer components, will be recycled.Residents who participated in the event said they were just thankful to have the opportunity, and wished the city offered similar events more often.”It is a badly needed enterprise," said Bob Smith, Indianapolis, who dropped off a small television and some cardboard. “When my wife read about this in the paper, we marked it on our calendar because it just sounded like something we ought to do.”Mike and Ann Perry dropped off their Christmas tree at Broad Ripple Park. The Indianapolis couple said they generally recycle on their own throughout the year, so they are glad to have a place to properly dispose of their tree. They have participated in the post-holiday recycling event all three years.“I’m just so glad the city gives the public a chance to take the initiative to recycle,” Mike Perry said.The event was hosted by SustainIndy, an initiative launched last fall by Mayor Greg Ballard to bring long-term cost savings to Indianapolis through environmental improvement efforts.