By Renee Larr
Zion Nature Center will receive a triple-sorting recycling center in May thanks to a grant from Boone County Solid Waste District. The receptacle will include three separate bins for cans/bottles, paper and trash.
“The recycling center will be used by guests visiting the Zion Nature Center. The three compartments will help streamline our glass/plastic recycling, paper recycling and trash within the Nature Center. Boone County Solid Waste Management district does have outside recycling centers where Boone County residents can drop off their recycling materials if they don’t have curbside pickup,” Park Naturalist and Nature Center Manager Mindy Murdock stated in an email.
The nature center has regular-sized recycling bins throughout the center, but officials hope the larger, more visual container will help with sorting items to be recycled.
“Our recycling bins don’t list what can be placed in them, so many recyclable materials are accidentally thrown away, or non-recyclables are placed in the bin, and we have to sort through them before emptying the containers,” Murdock said.
She also said this recycling center was selected for the nature center because of its size, clear labeling and because it is made out of 1,439 recycled milk cartons.
“Unlike some recycled products, it doesn’t contain any foam fillers or other materials, so in the future if we need to replace the bin we can recycle it,” Murdock said.
Zion Nature Center will use the center as an educational tool to teach the community about the benefits of recycling. It will be located in the foyer of the new Zion Nature Center, which is planned near Heritage Trail Park.
“In addition to the normal use of the bin, we will have signage discussing the importance of recycling. We will also have information highlighting some of the other conservation and sustainable services that the Zionsville Parks Department does, such as our invasive plant work within the parks, our Pull for Parks in April of every year, and our Creekfest creek cleanup that takes place in August,” Murdock said.
