The recycling section of IDEM aims to reduce municipal solid waste and help Indiana reach and sustain a recycling rate of 50 percent. The recycling section staff work with partners across the state to promote recycling and provide technical assistance to individuals, businesses, solid waste management districts, schools, municipalities, and other organizations to find appropriate disposal methods for recyclable materials. In order to provide insight about the status of recycling rates in Indiana and to assist with determinations on improvement strategies, the recycling section produces an annual recycling activity report detailing the shipments of recyclables collected by municipal solid waste recyclers by material type and their destination.
Because electronic waste (E-waste) is a specific category of waste which is prohibited by the Indiana E-Waste Law (329 IAC 16) from being disposed of in the trash by households, small businesses, and schools, the recycling section houses the Indiana E-waste / E-Cycle Program. This program provides educational outreach materials and disposal assistance to manufacturers, collectors, and electronics recyclers to facilitate environmentally responsible management of e-waste and ensure compliance with the provisions of the law.
Two grant programs are administered in the recycling section to support Indiana schools, municipalities, solid waste districts, businesses, and non-profits’ efforts to increase waste diversion from landfills and incinerators. The Indiana Recycling Market Development Program administers a grant program for reuse, reduction, and recycling projects that help develop markets for recycling, increase recyclable material collection, and provide public education and awareness of recycling opportunities. The Community Recycling Grant Program offers funding for new or expanded projects including education and promotion of recycling, waste reduction, organics management (including yard waste management and composting), and household hazardous waste collection and disposal