State and federal laws and rules contain strict standards for handling, processing, and disposing of household, municipal, commercial, and industrial waste. Indiana has adopted many federal environmental regulations and incorporated them into state rules. State laws give IDEM the authority to oversee the management of solid waste, which includes solid waste, hazardous waste, and toxic waste, in Indiana.
The Office of Land Quality (OLQ) administers several solid waste regulatory programs that define the limits of environmentally acceptable behavior in Indiana. The programs are governed by the laws and rules below. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved IDEM’s solid waste program for municipal solid waste landfills as meeting the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR Part 258, Subtitle D).
Laws
Indiana's environmental laws are located in Title 13. Environment of the Indiana Code. Laws that apply to solid waste include but are not limited to:
- Article 18 – Water Pollution Control
- Article 19 – Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste Management
- Article 20 – Solid Waste Management
- Article 20.5 – Electronic Waste
- Article 21 – Solid Waste Management Districts
- Article 22 – Hazardous Waste Management
- Article 23 – Underground Storage Tanks
- Article 24 – Petroleum
- Article 25 – Hazardous Substances
Rules
Rules in Title 327 and Title 329 of the Indiana Administrative Code govern IDEM’s solid and hazardous waste programs and set forth requirements for the regulated community. Septage, land application of certain wastewater, and storm water management are regulated by the Water Pollution Control rules in Title 327 IAC. Solid waste disposal, storage, and processing facilities—including but not limited to landfills, incinerators, transfer stations, composting facilities, waste tire operations, and collection container systems—and other waste management activities are regulated by the solid waste rules in Title 329.
Repealed solid waste rules that apply to some old facilities that operated and closed when the rules were in effect are located in Indiana Stream Pollution Control Board regulation SPC 18 and in the Indiana Administrative Code:
- SPC 18 [PDF] - 1974
- 320 IAC 5 [PDF] - 1974
- 330 IAC 4 [PDF] - August 1988
- 320.1 IAC 5 [PDF] - April 1986
- 329 IAC 1.5 [PDF] - July 1, 1988
- 329 IAC 2 [PDF] - December 1988
Local Laws and Regulations
Local government agencies (e.g., cities, towns, counties, zoning commissions) have authority to adopt ordinances and issue permits that are more stringent or specific than state requirements. IDEM does not have the authority to oversee or enforce local laws and regulations. Citizens must comply with local laws and regulations in addition to state and federal laws and rules. Please contact local government agencies to determine if local laws or regulations exist. MyLocal.IN.gov provides links to local government websites.
Disclaimer
The guidance on this website does not replace federal and state laws or rules. IDEM recommends using the laws and rules as a primary reference and the website to help apply them. Please note the website does not supersede any other applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations.