On July 1, 2024, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) announced the availability of $3.7 million in grant funding for projects in Marion, Hamilton, Hancock, Shelby, Johnson, Morgan, Hendricks, and Boone counties which demonstrate waste diversion from landfills and incinerators to Indiana-based commercial use of the discarded material.
Projects must be implemented by private sector entities and demonstrate an understanding of the economy for recyclers and seek solutions which effectively use monies to increase waste diversion.
Projects and grant funding such as these integral to encouraging waste reduction at all levels. Keeping chemicals out of the disposal streams (and in turn they are less likely to reach the water supply) is essential to providing protecting the environment and also our drinking water.
Check out last year’s Marion County recipients below or learn more about how to apply. Applications are due October 1, 2024.
2023 Recipients in Marion County
Last year in Marion County, three projects were awarded funding.
RecycleForce – $87,500 towards the purchase of new equipment, education efforts through paid tv, radio, & signage, and the establishment and support of a new recycling hub that will provide free drop-off recycling. This project was estimated to increase RecycleForce capacity to approximately 4,000 tons per year.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway – 270,000 to expand recycling collection efforts throughout the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s facility and grounds. This expansion was anticipated to divert an additional 165 tons per year of recyclable materials.
Republic Polymers: $2,000,000 for equipment to recover black plastic from the single stream recycling programs in Indiana. This equipment is part of a larger project that is estimated to add 60 new jobs and divert an additional 80,000 tons per year of postconsumer plastic.
About the Recycling Market Development Program
The Recycling Market Development Program was established in the 1990s and supported by the Recycling Promotion and Assistance Fund (RPAF) established under IC 4-23-5.5-14. Funding for the Recycling Promotion and Assistance Fund is generated by a per-ton fee on solid waste disposed at Indiana landfills.
