Through a partnership between the City of Atchison, MGP Ingredients, U.S.D. 409, St. Benedict’s Catholic School, and Trinity Lutheran, co-mingled recycling drop off bins are now available at five local schools. The new program will allow for businesses, area residents, and local educational institutions to drop off all co-mingled recycling materials in the bins. Along with paper and cardboard, plastics, aluminum, and tin will all be accepted. Glass will not be accepted.
The goal of the new program offering is to make recycling drop offs more convenient for the community and to grow the long-term viability of the community-wide recycling program through education and access at local schools. U.S.D. 409 Superintendent Susan Myers stated, “Students in our district have more interest than ever in recycling programs. It was critical for us to find a way to replace the paper recycling service that ended in February and we’re thrilled with the collaboration that has led to this new program.”
MGP has agreed to cover half the startup costs for the new program. “We’re a company that values corporate citizenship,” said MGP President and CEO Gus Griffin. “The efforts of local schools to improve their access to reliable recycling services is an initiative we’re happy to get behind.” The other half of the startup costs was covered by the City of Atchison, making the program available for local schools at no cost.
The new recycling drop off bins are now available at the following locations:
- Atchison Elementary School
- Atchison Middle School
- Atchison High School
- Trinity Lutheran School
- St. Benedict’s Catholic School
Atchison’s Director of Public Works & Utilities, Justin Pregont, considers the program to be a wonderful supplement to the existing curbside recycling program. “We understand that for the recycling ethic to grow in the Atchison community, it has to be an integral part of the education institutions,” he said. “A partnership with our local schools is a fantastic longterm investment in the City’s recycling efforts.”