TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Indiana State University recycle center has taken in millions of pounds of recyclable material through the years.
People throughout the Wabash Valley come to bring their recyclables to ISU. However, many who went by on Saturday were surprised to learn of a common material that is no longer being accepted by the center.
“What we are not taking is this paper board or chip board. It is very, very thin. It’s almost a paper product,” said Elizabeth Attebery, supervisor for recycle at ISU.
Chip board is used for packaged items such as cereal, pancake mix, soda boxes, and individual ice creams.
It’s something Terre Haute resident Mary Larimer said she did not know about.
“Just finding out today means we get to haul it back home and it will go into the trash until we find something else. So i’m a little discouraged and hoping they’ll find a market for it,” she said.
Accoridng to ISU, it was not an easy choice to make.
“We did not really make that determination, our vendor did. They’re wanting us to pay to have it sent in and there’s just no way that we can afford that cause there’s just so much of it,” Attebery said.
Now, the material goes somewhere else.
“I really wish they would find a different way to package stuff so we wouldn’t have to put this in the landfill,” Attebery said.
ISU said they hope to be of support to those with concerns.
“I think if the community would just ask when they come in if we take it and we can explain. We always have people out here to help. We’re not here to make anybody mad. We’re just doing what we’re told to do through our vendor,” said Attebery.
In addition to the chip board, ISU’s recycle center does not take plastic shopping bags, batteries, or soiled containers.
