Downtown Bloomington Recycling Center

When Mayor Kruzan announced at a press conference on March 30th that the City of Bloomington, the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District, and Bloomington Pedal Power would be entering into a public/private partnership to establish a Downtown Bloomington Recycling Center (DBRC), the future of a sustainable Bloomington became a little brighter. The event was well attended, and the tone was really positive. I was honored to be part of such a special gathering of people, and I am thrilled to be working with an administration that I have seen evolve into a truly active, progressive force in not only Monroe County, but the State of Indiana, all the while garnering national attention for its economic successes during a time of federal fiscal uncertainty and global political unrest.

The new Downtown Recycling Center, located in the north-west corner of the showers parking lot, will be a place for people to bring their recyclable materials, and experience a sense of community, much like the South Walnut Recycling Center. At this downtown location, we hope to do as much as we can with the space that we have; this is truly a unique opportunity, and the potential for strengthening Bloomington’s core constituency through this initiative is now very real.

In addition to the four roll-off containers provided by the District (equal to $25,000 if purchased new), the City is providing the real estate through displacement of 19 permit parking spaces, as well as a tasteful, recycled content vinyl dog-ear fence adorned with panel art via the Economic Development Director for the Arts and Local Artists to further enhance the character of this project (roughly another $25,000). I will provide management of the site, which will operate 60 hours per week, Monday through Saturday, 7:30 am – 5:30 pm.

But this is more than just a recycling center; this project represents the confluence of numerous public and private agencies, individuals, and businesses, all of whom have a vested interest in the success of this operation. So why not take it to the next level, and help put Bloomington on the map as a regional leader of sustainable development? This is the meta-goal of the DBRC; to serve as a model of intelligent social development and infrastructure, while helping to change the culture of waste in the downtown.

DBRC - Progress

The DBRC will require a shelter/office for the staff and volunteers who will be there 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. Initially, I considered simply buying a shed “off the shelf”, to save time and money. As I thought about it more, that idea seemed absurd. Keep it local, and let’s draw on the interest of the business community to make something special. So, the idea of the shed evolved into a construction project…something simple, four walls, a gabled roof, maybe a canopy…that idea grew to include a small solar electric system, then a rain barrel, then…wait, why not make this thing a real architectural model for sustainability operating completely off the grid year-round? That brings us to the current, and I think, final incarnation of the design, which is inspired in part by the existing architecture of the Showers Complex, but also by the idea of self-reliance and embracing progressive technology and thinking for the future.

Some of the main features of the structure include a robust solar electric system, a solar hot air collector, greenhouse space, skylights, evaporative cooling, water catchment system, locally sourced construction materials, and passive solar heating. There will be a container garden on-site, the fruit of which will be donated to the Food Bank, and profits from the sale of cardboard will benefit Middle Way House. We may even include a propane system to provide fuel for a hotplate, back-up heat in the darkest days of winter, and a propane powered refrigerator. Just because it’s off the grid doesn’t mean that it can’t be an inviting, cozy space to inhabit. Because so many people will be moving through and occupying this space throughout the years, I feel it’s important that we do as much as we can to put the stamp of Bloomington on this site; make it not just a shelter from the cold, but the Command Center in the War on Waste; inspire the folks for whom this project was conceived in the first place, and reap not only the rewards of reduced waste locally, but of increased visibility on a national scale for the City and its business community. The educational potential of the project is perhaps its most important quality; a living-learning center for the Public; a place where people can come to experience something truly unique and imminently practical, and leave with renewed hope for our collective experience.

So, as we move forward, we call upon local business leaders to help us make this dream a reality. We are approaching about 30 locally owned, core Bloomington businesses to donate $500 each to the cause, whether in material support or cash; this will allow us to build the structure, and contribute to start-up costs (for insurance, tools, shipping costs, unforeseen obstacles, basically, the “rainy day fund”) so that we may hit the ground running and begin our attack on waste in earnest. Several have already stepped up with pledges of cash and material support; Alex Jarvis of Solar Systems of Indiana will be donating his time and skills to the installation of the electric system, Black Lumber has agreed to provide discounted materials, several folks will be volunteering labor to construct the HQ, Stranger’s Hill has pledged plants for the urban garden, Nick’s, Pizza X, Bloomington Brewing Co., Bloomingfoods, and others have all pledged cash support…basically, there is great momentum building around the project, which is a good thing.

In conclusion, I’d like to thank those businesses who have helped make Pedal Power what it is today, and to humbly request support during this exciting time. Together, we can make a difference. The DBRC will serve this community well for many years, and provide the people for whom it exists with an inspiring example of sustainability, built on the foundation of local cooperation.