Program in Fort Wayne, Indiana, aims to boost participation, reduce contamination

This week, officials in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joined Vaughan, Ontario-based environmental services company GFL Environmental to launch the “Keep the Recycling Machine Running Clean” campaign in an effort to make the city’s recycling program stronger.

According to a news release, the initiative will focus on education and awareness to increase participation and help reduce the amount of contaminated materials inadvertently put in recycling bins.

The “Keep the Recycling Machine Running Clean” campaign includes three videos featuring a “wish fairy” character who uses humor to educate viewers about some recycling misconceptions, or “wishcycling.”

“Recycling is an important priority that enhances the quality of life in Fort Wayne,” Mayor Sharon Tucker says. “We encourage residents to participate in our recycling program. We’re working each day to make a positive difference. I’m appreciative of the efforts of our partners at the Solid Waste Department and GFL as they continue their commitment to providing excellent customer service.”

RELATED: GFL Environmental to sell majority stake in Environmental Services business to Apollo, BC Partners

GFL initially was awarded Fort Wayne’s waste and recycling contract in May 2022, taking over service from River Waste Solutions, which had serviced the city since 2016. In October 2024, Fort Wayne officials agreed to a 10-year contract with GFL to manage the city’s nearly 11,800 tons of recyclables, which will be transported to GFL’s material recovery facility (MRF) in Pontiac, Michigan—about 184 miles away.

The Pontiac MRF is a 125,000-square-foot facility that was retrofitted and opened in 2022. It has a 32,000-square-foot tipping floor and a 45,000-square-foot bale storage area. According to GFL, the MRF processes about 35 tons per hour and features seven optical sorters, among other sorting technology and equipment.

The city of Fort Wayne is receiving a 5 percent increase in revenue thanks to the new GFL contract, according to officials, good for an estimated $600,000 per year.

GFL’s recycling contract also included the appointment of an education coordinator who will host workshops, seminars and community events to raise awareness and encourage participation in recycling efforts in Fort Wayne. The education coordinator also will be available to attend neighborhood partnership meetings and Solid Waste Advisory Board meetings.

“We are very excited to expand our partnership with the city of Fort Wayne to include processing recyclable materials that we collect up at the curb,” GFL Area Recycling Director Brent Shows says. “By working in partnership with the city, we can now maximize the recovery and reuse of all recyclable materials from residents through our state-of-the-art facility.”

To view the educational videos or to learn more about the campaign, visit the “Keep the Recycling Machine Running Clean” website.