As the only Central Indiana newspaper printed on 100 percent recycled paper, NUVO does its part. Please do your part by recycling.

Recycling scorecard

Twenty years ago, only one curbside recycling program existed in this country. By 1998, 9,000 curbside programs and 12,000 recyclable drop-off centers were in operation, and 480 materials recovery facilities had been established to process the collected materials.

However, in Indianapolis, only about 3.5 percent of eligible households participate in curbside recycling programs offered by the city and its contractors, according to Margie Smith Simmons, Department of Public Works. A survey conducted by Waste News reveals that in 2005 the city collected 8,540 tons of recycling material, and private haulers picked up 32,308 tons. Unlike many suburbs, Marion County does not have a mandatory recycling program. Because residents have to expend effort — and money — to recycle, most don’t bother. Here’s a breakdown of curbside recycling participation:

Preventative recycling

One way to beat the recycling dilemma is to avoid the need by making choices in the products you buy and use. Reduce and reuse: The Indiana Recycling Coalition offers ideas on “precycling” to help consumers think about the items they buy. By not creating waste, precycling helps reduce energy costs and pollution while conserving energy, natural resources and disposal capacity.

Some tips include:

• Take your own shopping bags to the market.

• Buy in bulk — it saves money and reduces the amount of packaging to dispose of.

• Buy recycled packaging whenever available.

• Buy reusable items to reduce waste.

• Avoid disposable products: single-serving packaged items, diapers, (which account for 2 percent of total U.S. landfill volume), cleaning supplies, paper towels, etc.

• Buy loose (not pre-packaged) fruits and vegetables.

• Use rechargeable batteries.

• Compost lawn and kitchen waste.

• Donate still-useful items to charity.

For more ideas and information, log on to www.indianarecycling.org.

Curbside pickup

Indianapolis Department of Public Works
317-327-4MAC (Mayor’s Action Center)

Glass, No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, aerosol cans, steel and aluminum food and beverage cans, newspaper, appliances, leaf and lawn waste can be collected at your curb for $5/month or dropped at any of 29 citywide locations.

Ray’s Trash Service
www.raystrash.com

Glass, No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, aerosol cans, steel and aluminum food and beverage cans and newspaper can be collected at your curb for a small monthly fee (varies depending on service). No drop-off available.

Drop-off sites

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc.
www.kibi.org

Glass (brown, clear, green), plastics (No. 1 and No. 2), aerosol cans, steel and aluminum food and beverage cans and newspaper and phone books can be recycled at the following drop-off locations.

North
K-Mart, 8752 N. Michigan Road
Sahm’s Park, 6801 E. 91st St.
Marsh Supermarkets, 11625 Fox Road (Windridge Shopping Center)
Kroger, Sunnyside Shoppes (Pendleton Pike and Sunnyside)
Kroger, 2629 E. 65th St. (65th and Keystone)
Kroger, 9835 Fall Creek Road (79th and Fall Creek)
Village Pantry, 1415 W. 86th St.
Broad Ripple Park, Evanston Street Entrance
LoBill, 53rd and Keystone South
Southwestway Park, 8400 S. Mann Road
Perry Park, 415 E. Stop 11 Road
Kroger, 4202 S. East St.
Kroger, 6025 Madison Ave. (Madison and Edgewood)
Kroger, 321 S. First St. (Churchman and Emerson, Beech Grove)
Kroger, 5325 E. Thompson Road
Kroger, 8707 Hardigan St.(Target Mall Greenwood)
Marsh Supermarket, 3633 Kentucky Ave. (Kentucky and Mann)

East

Eastgate Consumer Mall, 7150 E. Washington St. (lower parking lot)
O’Malia’s, 56th and Emerson Way
Kroger, 8939 E. 38th St. (38th and Post)
Kroger, 10450 E. Washington St.
LoBill, 3737 E. Washington St.
Sunnyside Shoppes, 11101 Pendleton Pike

West

Kroger, 5615 W. 38th St.
Northwestway Park, 62nd and Moller Road
Kroger, 5026 Crawfordsville Road (Speedway SuperCenter)
Kroger, 8150 Rockville Road

Downtown

Children’s Museum, 3000 N. Illinois
O’Malia’s, 320 N. New Jersey

The Indianapolis Recycles containers do not accept cardboard boxes, plastic bags or paper bags.

Drop-off solutions for unusual, difficult and toxic items

Styrofoam peanuts and packaging material
The UPS Store

Phone books, catalogs, cardboard
Indianapolis Recycled Fiber, 317-634-7571

Trinity Recycling, 317-381-0968; 1947 Stout Field West Drive

Appliances

Goodwill, Salvation Army, www.thecityofindianapolis.com/pawn-shop for locations

Indianapolis Department of Public Works, 317-327-4622

Appliance Recyclers of Indiana, 317-788-8681; 423 Main St., Beech Grove (fee for refrigerators plus additional charge for pickup)

Capitol City Metals, 317-264-2222; 2210 W. Oliver Ave.

Farnsworth Metal Recycling, 317-481-8501; 3602 Farnsworth St.

NuGenesis, 317-834-8200; 1611 Hansel Parkway (fee plus additional charge for pickup)

Retrofit Recycling, 317-381-0628; 2156 S. Lynhurst Drive

Sarco, 317-974-1111; 850 S. Keystone Ave. (refrigerator lines must be cut)

Metals (aluminum, brass, steel, copper — no appliances)

J. Solotken & Company, Inc., 317-638-5566; 101 S. Harding St.

Sarco, 317-974-1111; 850 S. Keystone Ave.

Northside Scrap Metals, 317-937-2727; 1212 E. 25th St.

Happy Scrap, 317-636-6008; 3738 E. 11th St.

Tapes, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, jewel cases

Plastic Recycling Inc., 317-780-6100; 2015 S. Pennsylvania Ave.

Batteries Retrofit Recycling, 317-381-0628; 2156 S. Lynhurst Drive

Happy Scrap, 317-636-6008; 3738 E. 11th St.

Cell phones

Verizon Wireless Indiana Recycling Coalition, 877-283.9550; www.indianarecycling.org

End of Life Electronics Midwest, 317-849-7314; 11815 Technology Drive, Fishers

Electronics (computers, laptops palm pilots, cameras, pagers, beepers)

Indiana Recycling Coalition, 877-283-9550; www.indianarecycling.org

Goldsmith Group, www.goldsmithgroup.com

Retrofit Recycling, 317-381-0628; 2156 S. Lynhurst Drive

The Virtual Scavenger Project, 317-917-9111; 754 N. Sherman Drive

End of Life Electronics Midwest, 317-849-7314; 11815 Technology Drive, Fishers

Indianapolis Department of Public Works, 317-327-4MAC (Mayor’s Action Center) pickup program starts May-June

Printer ink cartridges

Office Depot

Antifreeze, paint and other household chemicals

Tox-Drops, 317-327-4TOX (4869) Trader’s Point, 7400 N. Lafayette Road, first and third Saturdays

Indianapolis Police Department Training Facility, 9049 E. 10th St., first and third Saturdays

Perry Township Government Center, 4925 Shelby St., second and fourth Saturdays

Autos

Goodwill C

ontact Keep Indianapolis Beautiful at 317-264-7555 to find out where you can recycle other types of metals, papers, fibers and other types of plastics.