Lake Land College, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Work To Reinstate Recycling Bins At Kluthe Center

After recycling bins located at the Lake Land College Kluthe Center in Effingham were closed as a cost saving measure for the college, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital committed to funding these bins for community use until a longer term recycling solution could be discussed with community leaders. Pictured are, left to right, are President and CEO of HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Theresa Rutherford; Lake Land College President Josh Bullock; and Interim Director for the Lake Land College Kluthe Center Dustin Heuerman.

Earlier this month, Lake Land College closed the free recycling bins located at the Kluthe Center in Effingham as a cost saving measure for the college. For many years, area organizations have funded recycling bins for community use, such as the bins located at Lake Land College’s Kluthe Center. Due to shrinking budgets over the past couple of years, those recycling drop-off sites have closed one-by-one leaving Lake Land College one of very few recycling options available for the community.

“Maintaining the bins cost nearly $20,000 annually,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “We loved being able to provide that service to the community, but as volumes of collected recyclables have increased it simply has become cost prohibitive to continue offering the free service.”

In response to closing the bins, the college was approached by HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham, which offered to financially support the recycling bins at the Kluthe Center for one year, while a longer term recycling solution could be discussed with community leaders.

“It was tremendously generous of the hospital to work with us in order to invest in its community like this,” said Bullock. “This year-long commitment will allow us to work alongside St. Anthony’s and community leaders in Effingham to develop and establish a long-term solution to offering recycling in the Effingham area.”

The hospital made this commitment as part of its dedication to demonstrate reverence for the earth. In fact, just last month, the hospital was awarded the 2015 “Greenhealth Partner for Change” Award by Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading health care community that empowers its members to increase their efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care through tools, best practices and knowledge. The Award is one of the organization’s Environmental Excellence Awards given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the health care sector.

For more questions about recycling at the Kluthe Center, contact Dustin Heuerman, interim director for the Kluthe Center, at 217-540-3501.