"In every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations."

Recycling is an important part of our future, if we want to provide a clean and healthy place for our children and grandchildren to live. Currently, the average person sends 4.4 pounds of garbage to the landfill every day. This is evidenced by the overflowing garbage cans that line our streets every Friday.

In 1960, the average person generated just 2.7 pounds of garbage per day. Consumer trends such as disposable razors, travel size toothpaste, junk mail, and designer packaging have contributed to the increasing trash load we see today. However, recycling rates have also grown since 1960, from 6% to 30% of all garbage.

One reason that recycling may not be a priority to some people, is because the garbage problem is "out of sight, out of mind". Do you actually know where your garbage goes? One local landfill is located on 1000 acres, 45 miles west of Indianapolis, near Roachdale. Another landfill is Laidlaw South, with nearly 6 million tons of garbage buried underground. Finally, we have the 15 million ton, 312 acre Southside landfill located at 2561 Kentucky Avenue.

Here's what the EPA website says about the Kentucky Avenue Landfill: "Groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic, chromium, cadmium, and nickel. On-site soils are contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Seven to eight thousand people live within a 3-mile radius of the site and use the groundwater as a drinking water supply. The distance from the site to the nearest residence is two miles. Nearby Eagle Creek, White River, and Fall Creek are used for recreational activities. An estimated four million cubic yards of waste, including coal tar, asbestos, iron oxide and clarifier sludges, and paint waste, have been buried at the landfill."

The Keystone Monon Neighborhood can make a difference. Tell your family and friends to create a recycle bin, and place it in front of their garbage can. Every time you begin to throw something away, ask yourself, "is this recyclable?" Most clean paper, plastic, metal, and glass are recyclable. When Friday comes, you will likely notice that your recycling bin is more full than your garbage can. So you'll need to know where to take it.

The Indy Mayor's Action Committee (317-327-4622) will help you sign up for curbside recycling pickup, which costs $5 per month.

If you would rather drop off your recycling, there are many places you can go. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful lists our local drop off sites. The closest location to our area is Regions Bank at 4701 Keystone. In addition, there are many green and yellow Abitibi "paper retriever" bins located at churches and schools in our community. These bins help raise money for schools, as well as making it easy to recycle paper. There is one located at School 55 on 54th Ave and Indianola.

Just north of our area, there are recycling bins near the Walmart on North Keystone.

Why not get started today!

Note: The Keep Indianapolis Beautiful website lists Broad Ripple Park - 62nd & Evanston, as a recycling location. However, we have not seen bins there. If you have, please let us know.

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