MADISON, WI – Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison’s Environmental Services Manager Laura LaMere has combined her personal interest in sustainability with TerraCycle, a first-of-its-kind national recycling platform using a Zero Waste Box recycling solution/process. LaMere determined TerraCycle’s waste management program would be a great way to responsibly dispose of their used COVID-19 personal protection equipment (PPE), as well as another one of their high-used materials, bottle caps. With this program, Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison will redirect these items and alleviate them from ending up in landfills. “By joining this program, Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison will be significantly reducing its environmental impact,” LaMere said.
Polypropylene products, similar materials to face masks, can take up to an estimated 450 years to decompose. TerraCycle’s recycling program is an easy-to-use process: order a zero waste box or pallet; collect and fill with waste consumption; and then send it back using the included prepaid return label. “In the future we hope to include batteries, ink cartridges, plastic ware and Styrofoam cups,” said LaMere. With face masks the “norm” for the time being, used PPE from the pandemic continue to add to the multitude of other disposable, single-use products requiring much-needed solutions. “TerraCycle’s recycling program will bring Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison one step closer to its continued efforts toward a more sustainable future,” continued LaMere.
“It’s so beneficial to have someone with such an environmental conscience as our Environmental Services Manager, working to responsibly dispose of our PPE,” said Daniel Brown, Executive Manager of Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison. “I am proud to say as a result of Laura’s leadership and all her efforts, we’ve taken responsible ecological measures to mitigate waste at our casino and hope to help to educate other organizations on environmentally-friendly options.”