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The Muncie Sanitary District is doing their part to help Muncie “go green” this year with a new spin on employee fashion.

With a $5,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, sanitary workers will soon sport new uniforms. The city will buy employees new fleece pull-overs, polo shirts, and t-shirts—all made from the recycled materials the district collects everyday.

• 80 percent of the fleece pull-overs are made of recycled soda bottles.
• The polo shirts are a combination of 70 percent recycled cotton and 30 percent recycled polyester.
• The T-shirts are made entirely (100 percent) of recycled cotton.

Lina Gordy, sanitary district grant specialist, says it’s a good idea to choose recycled clothing.

“We started going through ‘what are the kind of products that we use everyday and something that will get us a lot of publicity in the community?’ And since a lot of [workers] are out in the community on a daily basis, we thought ‘well if we do recycled clothing then people will actually be able to see them and see that we’re trying to do something good for the environment,’” said Gordy.

When asked what they thought about the new uniforms and the material, sanitary workers had positive responses.

About the polo shirts, Frazer Wilson, MSD truck driver said, “I’m surprised how soft it is, I really am!”

“I like the way it feels,” said Freddie Stewart, part of MSD’s labor force, “It’s better than what I’m wearing, and I hope we get some of them”.

Kellie McClellan, Urban forester of MSD said, “I think it’s cute, it’s light weight, very soft, and anything that’s recycled I’m all for”.

Because the recycled clothing will be ordered in bulk, the uniforms will cost the city less than in years past.

The fleece pull-overs cost $35, the polo shirts are $25, and the T-shirts at a mere $8. However, Gordy says district employees can count the cost toward their clothing allowance. Gordy also says she hopes buying the eco-friendly clothing will start a trend in the local government.

“Well, we hope that we can lead the way and set an example for other government entities and other companies to start doing this too,” said Gordy, “a lot of places buy recycled paper, and some green products, but clothing is pretty unusual so we hope that other people will follow suit”.

Gordy says the district will be ordering the new uniforms in a few months. Employees say they’re excited for the change, and will hopefully be wearing them around town by spring time.