Episode 62: Allyson Mitchell- Indiana Recycling Coalition

Allyson Mitchell is the executive director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition. The Indiana Recycling Coalition is a nonprofit in the state of Indiana that was founded in 1989. They focus on the education and advocacy to inspire the Indiana community, businesses, institutions, and governments to encourage waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. Their mission is “to strengthen the circular economy in Indiana through waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting.” In this episode, Allyson shares her path to becoming the executive director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition, some ways that you can improve your own recycling habits, how recycling impacts jobs, the economy, and the environment, and what the organization is currently working on. This episode is hosted by Emma Benner.   What we talked about: 2:40- Introduction to Allyson Mitchell and what lead her to becoming the Executive Director at the Indiana Recycling Coalition 7:10- How her law degree benefits her work in the Indiana Recycling Coalition nonprofit organization 9:15- Current global events happening in the recycling industry that is causing the United States as well as local organizations (such as the IRC) to rethink and restructure how they recycle 13:50- The history of the Indiana Recycling Coalition 18:55- Creative ways to reduce your waste 22:50- The truth behind if and how items get recycled and how to maximize the chances of your items being recycled 33:15- How recycling can become contaminated and how to best clean your recyclables 36:50- How we can encourage people within our communities to recycle and what to say to someone that doesn’t believe that recycling works 40:05- Other things that recycling benefits beyond the environment 44:45- The obstacles that people face with recycling and what leads to people not recycling 49:45- What a day in the life looks like for Allyson as the executive director at the Indiana Recycling Coalition 52:40- How their organization is making structural and organizational changes to confront racism in the recycling community 58:45- End of podcast questions   Show Notes: Indiana Recycling Coalition Website Indiana Recycling Coalition on Facebook Indiana Recycling Coalition on Instagram Allyson’s Book Recommendation: White Fragility  4Ocean Follow The Illuminate Podcast Illuminate Podcast on Instagram Illuminate Podcast on Twitter Illuminate Podcast on Facebook Follow Sandyboy Productions: Sandyboy Productions on Twitter Sandyboy Productions on Instagram