History

View ISU Recycle Center Landfill vs. Recycling History per Fiscal Year

View ISU Recycle Center 2013-2014Total Recycling

In late 1990,Indiana State University's Waste Management Department consisted of two aging 16-cubic yard compactor trucks, an old 3-wheeled Cushman truck, and five employees.

With little knowledge of recycling techniques and no budget, the Waste Management Department started recycling. The first thing the department began recycling was aluminum cans because "everyone else was doing it," green bar computer paper (ground wood) and glass. Additional items were soon added to the program.

When it appeared the program was beginning to make a real difference in the amount of waste diverted from the landfill, administration became enthused.

From that point, the recycling program gained momentum. Today we have a community drop-off facility and have accepted e-Scrap since 2007. There was a total of 2 million pounds of recyclable items collected from the Terre Haute community during the 2010-11 fiscal year.

From May 1990 through June 30, 2011, Indiana State University collected more that 40 million pounds of recyclable materials that were diverted from the local landfill. Recycling has created a savings of over $1,000,000 in landfill tipping fees and other associated charges.