Recycler Touting Jobs, Participation
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMayor Greg Ballard and Covanta Indianapolis Inc. are set to detail a proposed $45 million Advanced Recycling Center this afternoon near the city's downtown. The company says the technology would be the first-of-its-kind in North America and could recover up to 90 percent of paper, cardboard, plastics and metals without presorting. Opponents contend the facility would not meet the projected totals. If all approvals are met, the company says the operation would create around 60 jobs. During an interview on Inside INdiana Business Television, Covanta Vice President of Business Management Scott Holkeboer discussed the project's ambitious goals. He describes most of the positions as “high-tech.” Holkeboer says the company will try to fill some of the less-skilled jobs by partnering with organizations like Indianapolis-based RecycleForce, which hires and trains formerly incarcerated individuals.
Currently, around 10 percent of Indianapolis residents recycle. He says the new technology will allow everyone to participate without separating recyclables.
The city and company will announce additional information about the proposed facility during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
The Indiana Recycling Coalition says it is difficult to derive “high-quality” reusable material out of this form of recycling.
Covanta has operated a waste-to-energy facility in the city since the late-1980s. It produces steam used by Citizens Energy Group to heat many downtown buildings.
The new recycling center would use the same trucks and routes as current collections vehicles use.
Sources: Inside INdiana Business, Covanta Indianapolis Inc.