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FAQs
"Going green" may seem like a daunting prospect for some consumers or businesses, but in reality, just a few simple steps or green decisions can get you on the right path. To help guide you on the way to green, we've collected a list of the most frequently asked questions.
Whether you are a consumer, a community, a City contractor or an organization, the answers you are looking for are just a click away.
Recycling
What is curbside recycling?
Once you are enrolled in the curbside recycling program, you will be provided with an 18-gallon bin and your recycle day, which is often the same day as your trash collection. Simply place your recyclables in the bin and take it out to the curb by 7am for collection.Recycling has never been so easy!
How do I sign up for curbside recycling?
Call the Mayor's Action Center at 327-4MAC (4622). They will take your information and a recycling representative will contact you within 24-48 hours to confirm your subscription, provide you with your recycle day and inform you as to when your bin will be delivered.
What if my recycling is not picked up or I have problems with my collection service?
When the recycling representative contacts you to confirm your participation, they will provide you with a number to call to report problems or issues. If you forget that number, representatives from the Mayor's Action Center can tell you the name of your recycling contractor and provide you with the phone number.
Is there a fee for curbside recycling?
There is a nominal monthly fee of approximately $5.50 per month.
I don't want to pay for curbside recycling. Where can I take my recyclables?
The City of Indianapolis offers 28 FREE drop-off locations in which you can place your recyclables. These sites are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A list of locations can also be found online at www.RecycleIndianapolis.org.
What types of items can be recycled?
Green, brown or clear glass, #1 and #2 plastics, aluminum, tin and steel beverage and food cans, newspapers and magazines.
How do I know what type of plastic to recycle?
Typically on the bottom of the container there is a number within a triangle. If this number is a 1 or 2, it can be recycled.
Do I have to take the labels off tins and jars?
Labels do not have to be taken off as they get removed in the recycling process. However, please thoroughly rinse all bottles, jars and tins prior to putting them in your recycling bin.
Can I recycle can caps and tops?
No. Those items should be thrown in the trash.
I have a lot of plastic grocery bags. Can I recycle them?
Although some of the bags are marked a #1 or #2, they cannot be recycled. However, you can take your plastic bags to your local grocery store. Most grocery stores recycle these bags.
Can I recycle phone books?
Yes. Phone books can either be recycled via curbside or drop-off recycling.
Whether I subscribe to curbside recycling or utilize the drop-off containers, where do the recyclables go?
All materials collected through Recycle Indianapolis are taken to the Metals Recovery Facility where they are sorted, processed and shipped to companies that recycle them into items such as clothing, carpet, new aluminum cans, newspaper and cereal boxes, to name just a few.
How can I get rid of my old computer?
The City of Indianapolis offers eCycling. Our eCycles program will accept any make or model of cell phones, computers (laptop or desk model) and computer components including hard drives, monitors, printers, scanners, keyboards, mice and joy stick controllers, PC cards and circuit boards, PC speakers and microphones, USB devices, external power supplies and gaming accessories. These items can e dropped off at one of our four convenient ToxDrop locations. Locations can be found online at www.RecycleIndianapolis.org.
What happens to the electronic items that are eCycled?
All usable equipment will be refurbished and distributed back into the community. Reconditioned items will either be donated to various non-profit agencies, provided to low-income and underprivileged families or utilized for job training.
What is ToxDrop?
As a service to our citizens, we offer a year-round "ToxDrop" collection program that makes it easier for Indianapolis residents to dispose of their household hazardous waste. ToxDrop helps Indianapolis residents make their homes safer while preventing damage to the environment.
What is household hazardous waste?
Some examples include paint, paint thinner, motor oil, thermometers, pesticides, detergents, bathroom cleaners and ammonia. For a complete list both acceptable and unacceptable ToxDrop items, please visit www.RecycleIndianapolis.org.
What happens to the household hazardous waste that is collected at the ToxDrop locations?
More than 90 percent of the collected material is recycled, reused or treated. The remaining materials are disposed of through Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved disposal methods.
Why is leaf collection included in Recycle Indianapolis?
Every year, the Department of Public Works collects over 18,000,000 million pounds of leaves through its leaf collection program. Because leaves can be recycled into a useful end product, DPW compost the leaves collected and makes them available to the public free of charge. Compost can be used as a soil conditioner, potting soil or mulch. Using compost improves soil aeration, drainage and nutrient exchange - improving the health of lawns and helping gardens grow. Free compost from last year's program may now be available at the Southside Landfill, 2577 S. Kentucky Avenue, 317.247.6808.
What are white goods?
White goods is the term for appliances such as washers, dryers and refrigerators, originally derived from the white porcelain finish of the appliances.
Are discarded white goods recycled?
Yes, they are. All white goods collected in the Department of Public Works collection districts as a part of residential trash collection are separated from the waste stream and take to a metal recycling facility.
All white goods collected by the City's contractors as apart of residential trash collection are taken to Covanta, a modern waste-to-energy facility, where the materials are extracted from the end product (ash) and sent to a metal recycling facility for processing.
All white goods containing freon are collected by a separate truck and taken to a Department of Public Works facility. The freon is then extracted using the EPA approved methods before the appliance is taken to a metal recycling facility
Water Quality
Why do we have raw sewage spilling into our streams?
Indianapolis' sewer system is antiquated and can no longer handle the amount of sewage and rainwater that flows through it. During dry weather, sewage flows safely through the sewers to our wastewater treatment plants. However, as little as a quarter-inch of rain causes raw sewage to overflow into our streams. The sewers were built this way 80-100 years ago before there were wastewater treatment plants. This was common practice in many U.S. cities, especially in the Northeast and Midwest.
What are the harmful effects of raw sewage overflows?
Raw sewage in our streams is a health hazard, smells and looks disgusting, hurts our environment and harms the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Sewage overflows are a major cause of pollution in White River, Fall Creek, Pleasant Run, Pogues Run and Eagle Creek.
I don't fish or swim in the White River and don't live in the inner City. How does this program benefit me?
Projects are needed throughout Marion County, not just in the inner city. In addition to our long-term plan to reduce sewer overflows, we must extend sanitary sewers to neighborhoods now on septic systems, improve drainage and flood control, upgrade our treatment plants and provide more capaCity in our separate sewer system outside the old City limits. Although the sewers are sometimes "out-of-sight, out-of-mind," they are just as important to our city's future as our roads, bridges and highways.
Air Quality
What is Air Pollution?
The air we breathe is made up of a mixture of gases and small particles. Pollutants in the air are chemicals or substances that are harmful to humans, other species, or ecosystems as a whole. These such pollutants can come from human (anthropogenic) sources, or from natural sources such as volcanoes or dust storms.
What are the major classifications of air pollutants?
Most air pollutant gases are invisible to the naked eye, with the exception of nitrogen dioxide, which has a brownish color. Even air that appears to be clean and clear contains a multitude of small solid particles. One cubic foot of air can contain millions of air pollution particles! Scientists have observed that cities can have hundreds to thousands of times more particles than rural regions.
What is ozone pollution?
Ozone forms in both the upper and the lower atmosphere. Ozone is helpful in the upper atmosphere, called the stratosphere, because it absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet light coming from the sun. Ozone found in the lower atmosphere, called the troposphere, is harmful. Ozone found here is the prime ingredient for the formation of photochemical smog. This pollutant can irritate the eyes and throat, and damage crops.
What is fine particulate matter pollution?
Fine particulate matter pollution is composed of very small solid or liquid particles suspended in the air. Many man-made and natural sources emit fine particles directly or emit other pollutants that react in the atmosphere to form fine particles Fine particles have a PM is the most noticeable pollutant because it dramatically reduces visibility in urban areas.
What is carbon monoxide pollution?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is also a major urban air pollutant. It is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that forms during the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. Scientists estimate that in the U.S. alone, over 60 metric tons of CO enter the air annually.
What is sulfur dioxide pollution?
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) pollution is produced when sulfur containing fuels are burned. High concentrations of SO2 can aggravate respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. In high quantities, SO2 can harm plants and cause rain to become acidic.
What is nitrogen dioxide pollution?
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) pollution forms when nitrogen in the air reacts with oxygen during the high temperature combustion of fuel. High concentrations of this pollutant can lead to heart and lung problems, as well as lowering a body's natural immune system. NO2 is a key component in producing photochemical smog and ozone pollution.
What is lead pollution?
Lead has long been known as a harmful environmental pollutant, and has been called the most harmful pollutant to small children. People are easily exposed to lead pollution through the ingestion of contaminated water, food, air, soil, deteriorating paint and dust. Lead pollution is formed and emitted during the processing of metals. The highest concentration of this pollutant can be found in the vicinity of nonferrous and ferrous smelters, battery manufacturers, and other sources of stationary lead emissions. According to the American Lung Association, exposure to lead pollution can cause neurological impairments such as seizures, mental retardation, and/or behavioral disorders. Even in low amounts, exposure to lead is can cause damage to the nervous systems of fetuses and young children.).
What are primary and secondary pollutants?
Primary pollutants enter the atmosphere directly, such as from smoke stacks or vehicle exhausts. On the other hand, secondary pollutants are formed in the atmosphere when a chemical reaction takes place between a primary air pollutant and some other component of the air. For example, ozone is a secondary pollutant.
What is indoor air pollution?
The air we breathe inside our homes can be 5 to 100 times more polluted than the air outside! The EPA identifies sources of indoor air pollution as second-hand cigarette smoke, building materials, pressed wood products, home cleaning products, pesticides, adhesives, personal care products and others. Without proper ventilation to outside air, you and your family may be at risk for the development of short term as well as long-term health effects. Some short-term effects are headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Most of the time these symptoms are easily treated by removing yourself from the source of pollution. Long-term effects may show up years after the exposure or after several periods of exposure. Heart disease, cancer, and some respiratory diseases are a few of the possible health risks from exposure to indoor air pollution.
Sadly, more than one half of all air pollution deaths worldwide are due to indoor air pollution in developing countries. The American Lung Association estimates that more than2 million people per year die from this type of pollution.
Are boats, gas-powered lawnmowers, and other small engines significant sources of air pollution?
Yes! The EPA classifies "non-road", "off-road", or "off-highway" engines as power equipment, recreation vehicles, farm and construction machinery, lawn and garden equipment, marine vessels, locomotives, aircraft, and many others. Until amendments were made to the Clean Air Act in 1990, these engines had no federal law regulating their emissions. The new amendments stated that the EPA now had to research the air quality degradation that ensued when these different machines were operated. They found that non-road engines emitted large amounts of oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. The EPA also found that the particulate matter emitted from most of these engines was worse than that emitted from heavy-duty highway trucks! This led to more stringent regulations for these types of engines.
What is Acid Rain?
According to the Web site Weather Underground, Acid rain is any precipitation, rain or snow, which is more acidic than "normal" rain or snow. Acidity of substances is measured on the pH scale. Normal levels for rain and snow have a pH level of 5.5. Anything less than this is considered acidic. In 2000, the lowest pH recorded in the United States was 4.3! When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are released into the air from cars or factories, they cause the air to become more acidic. These gases combine with the water vapor to form weak acids that become part of the precipitation.
What is the Clean Air Act?
The Clean Air Act is a Federal law that sets air quality standards for emissions from area, stationary, and mobile sources. This law states that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is authorized to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) which protect human health and the environment. The Act was was amended in 1977 and then again in 1990. Amendments were made in order to address problems such as acid rain, ground-level ozone, upper level ozone depletion, and air toxics.
Land Stewardship
What does "Land Stewardship" mean?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Stewardship is "the careful and responsible management of [land] entrusted to one's care."
What is "Green Infrastructure"?
Green Infrastructure is the essential unbuilt infrastructure of a city. It is made up of the network of greenspaces, woodlands, wetlands, wildlife habitats, and other natural areas in a city – and the greenways and other natural corridors that connect them.
Why is Indianapolis' Green Infrastructure important?
Indianapolis' Green Infrastructure not only provides open space for recreation, relaxation, and enjoyment of the out-of-doors, but also provides essential environmental services and benefits to our city. By protecting and strategically managing natural areas within the city, we maintain the natural ecological processes of those areas – processes that quietly and faithfully clean our air and water.
What are "environmental services" and how can you put a price tag on them?
Environmental services are the benefits provided to everyone by trees, greenspace, and natural areas. It is well documented that - through their natural functioning - these areas filter pollutants from our air and water; provide flood control; cool temperatures; maintain biodiversity; and contribute to a global solution for climate change.
Environmental services are often assigned a dollar value so that we have a way of measuring what the cost would be if that service were no longer provided. For example, one EPA study has shown that a South Carolina wetland removes the same quantity of pollutants from the local water supply as would be removed by a $5 million treatment plant. Now that's quite a service to the community!
What is "carbon sequestration"?
Carbon sequestration is an important natural process that helps to clean an important global warming pollutant (carbon dioxide) from the atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, plants take up carbon dioxide and "sequester" it in new plant material such as wood or roots. This carbon is not re-released into the atmosphere until the plant decomposes or is burned. Carbon sequestration helps to "offset" some of the carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere each day from the burning of gasoline and other fossil fuels.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity simply means the diversity of life in natural ecosystems. Diverse ecosystems are more resilient, and much more able to recover from stressors such as changes in climate. Healthy ecosystems will continue to provide us with their valuable ecosystem services – such as cleaner air, cleaner water - for many generations to come.
What are invasive exotic species?
Many people are surprised to learn that the majority of plant species they find here in Indianapolis are from other countries. Some of these exotic plants invade, quickly taking over and degrading native plant communities. These exotics reduce the biodiversity of natural areas, making them less healthy, vibrant, and resilient to change. Some weedy examples include Siberian Elm, Tree of Heaven, Amur Honeysuckle and garlic mustard.
What is a rain garden?
Rain gardens are a great way for individuals to participate in the reduction of polluted runoff, simply by planting a specialized garden in their yard! Water is captured in a garden that features native plantings, and the water has a chance to slowly filter into the ground rather than run off into the storm sewer. It is a beautiful way to reduce water pollution, and a great way to get the whole family involved in caring for the environment. An excellent source for information on creating a raingarden is: http://www.raingardens.org
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