ISU Recycling Center, TREES Inc. partnership receives environmental award

A partnership involving the Indiana State University Recycling Center and TREES Inc. has been honored with a Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence.

Thomas Easterly, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, presented the award this week in recognition of the escrap partnership that also includes Indianapolis-based Workforce Inc.

The partnership featured "Escrap Super Saturdays" for the collection of electronic waste, regular drive-through recycling of escrap and special "TV Tuesday" collections at the Recycling Center.

Efforts included outreach to more than 500,000 Wabash Valley households, resulting in more than 1.5 million pounds of electronic waste being diverted from landfills. The project resulted in the collection of more than 24,000 pounds of televisions alone.

"These are outstanding figures generated by an extremely committed volunteer corps," Easterly said.

Launched in 1994, the Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence recognize Indiana leaders in identifying and implementing innovative environmental practices.

Indiana State University, via its new strategic plan and climate action plan, is committed to further expansion of its recycling commitment as part of an overall environmental sustainability initiative.

More information about recycling at ISU may be found at http://www.indstate.edu/facilities/recycle/

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Events/E-scrap/051609e-scrap-11/540649828_LDiTh-L.jpg - Televisions and other electronic waste are collected during an E-scrap Super Saturday event on the Indiana State University campus May 16, 2009.

Contact: Paul Reed, director of custodial and special services, Facilities Management, Indiana State University, 812-8197 or paul.reed@indstate.edu

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu