Business Grants to Boost Recycling Efforts
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSix Hoosier businesses have landed state grants for recycling initiatives. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management says the $525,000 in funding will support programs that could lead to dozens of jobs. November 26, 2013
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Six Indiana companies have received grant funding totaling $525,000 from the Recycling Market Development Program for equipment to expand recycling. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) administers the program, as directed by the Indiana General Assembly under IC 4-23-5.5. The companies' combined projects are part of a nearly $2.6 million commitment to their operations that will benefit the environment and result in the creation of new jobs.
“IDEM is pleased to aid Indiana businesses in their recycling efforts,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly. “The Recycling Market Development Program funding improves efficiency in manufacturing, reduces wastes, and contributes to the sustainability of Indiana businesses.”
The following information details the recipients and their projects:
-Ace Recycling Inc. in Allen County – $50,000 to purchase new and upgrade existing equipment that will better automate and support their e-waste demanufacturing processes, including improving material flow. Through this $313,843 project, equipment purchases will include a motorized conveyor system for sorting, a cross belt magnet system to separate metals, and lift scales. As a northern Indiana R-2 certified e-waste recycler, the company is on target to triple the 640,000 pounds recycled by the end of this year, as surrounding communities become aware of their services. It is also buying equipment from Indiana vendors. The company plans to hire 6 to 8 new employees.
-Better World Books in St. Joseph County – $100,000 to purchase inventory software and equipment to further automate its system to track book donations and sales. During the last 10 years, Better World Books has built a network that collects materials from more than 2,000 colleges/universities, 3,500 library systems, numerous thrift/non-profit organizations and a network of 1,200 green book drop boxes located throughout the United States. As a result, the company has re-used or recycled more than 120 million books while raising $15 million for libraries and literacy. The company estimates that an additional 10,856 tons of paper per year will be diverted from the waste stream with the $200,000 total investment, which also will increase processing ability by 28 percent, and enable the hiring of 57 new employees.
-Green Plus Plastics LLC in Marion County – $150,000 to expand operations to recycle plastic films and bottles into pellets. A new production line, which includes a grinder, wash line, extruders, dryer, conveyors, and storage bins, will be part of the $800,000 project. The additional equipment will allow the company to process dirtier materials such as Agri film and lower grades of film from trash collectors and retail distributors. The company is also working with international partnerships to better understand China's green fence policy. Green Plus expects to process 6,000 tons per year and hire seven new employees.
-Legal Chop Shop in Allen County – $25,000 to purchase equipment including a rack and storage system and pallets for their reuse operation. The company salvages parts from “end of life” vehicles, keeping automobile components out of landfills. It also will be expanding a storage building, bringing the total investment of the project to $400,000. It plans to hire three new employees. Legal Chop Shop estimates that 87 tons of vehicle related waste is diverted from the waste stream, including aluminum, glass, steel, and plastic. They also have received IDEM's “Gold Level Clean Yard” award for Indiana auto salvage companies.
-Midwest Veal in Wabash County – $50,000 to update its current manufacturing facility by expanding reuse/recycling efforts in their partnership with Mead Johnson Nutrition. The equipment will include a compression auger and feed conveyor, allowing the company to reclaim baby formula from packaging and then reuse the nutrients in animal feed. The feed material Midwest Veal recovers through this process is delivered straight to farms and is nutritionally complete as a milk feed for veal calves. Midwest Veal estimates that 750 tons of food product, as well as steel and paper, will be diverted from the waste stream. The company plans to hire up to 15 new employees, including 12 livestock contractors for local farmers. Total project costs are estimated to be $206,591.
-Plastic Recycling Inc. in Marion County – $150,000 to purchase and install additional equipment that would allow it to recycle plastic waste from presort facilities or industrial sources. The equipment would include a reclaim pelletizing extrusion line, melt filter, and water ring pelletizer. The cost of the new system is $664,344, allowing the company to divert an estimated 4,039 tons of plastic waste from the waste stream per year. The company will increase recycling by more than 8 million pounds of plastic scrap, including polystyrene, polypropylene and other resins. Emphasis will be on producing polystyrene pellets for manufacturing products like cups, plates, and packing materials. The company plans to hire up to 10 new employees.
About the RMDP Grants
RMDP Grants aid private businesses in the purchase of equipment specifically needed to remanufacture recyclable materials into finished products or industrial feedstocks. The Program is administered by IDEM and operates under the Recycling Market Development Board as established by IC 4-23-5.5. The Board announces final funding determinations of eligible projects. Funding for the program comes from the Recycling Promotion and Assistance Fund. Find more information about the program and read past annual reports at: http://www.in.gov/idem/recycle/2358.htm.
About IDEM
IDEM (www.idem.IN.gov) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids businesses and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.
Source: The Indiana Department of Environ