The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) launched a project in the second quarter of 2025 to develop an Indiana State Materials Management Plan (MMP). The MMP is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. It will serve as an anchor for the vision and infrastructure of materials management in the state.
IDEM has received funding through U.S. EPA's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for States and Territories to develop the Indiana State Materials Management Plan in support of the National Recycling Goal and Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal and to advance a circular economy for materials while supporting state-wide efforts to advance pre- and post-consumer materials management. Eunomia Research and Consulting, Inc. has been contracted for completion of the project.
What is the State Materials Management Plan?
The Indiana State Materials Management Plan will focus on transitioning from a recycling/disposal focus to a plan that focuses on reducing the impacts of material choices on our environment and natural resources by establishing convenient, inclusive access to, not only recycling, but organics management, waste reduction opportunities, and other adequate disposal options. Material management activities will include pre- and post-consumer recyclables, organics, tires, wood, concrete, e-waste, textiles, construction and demolition waste, emerging waste streams, and other materials traditionally incinerated or landfilled.
Questions or comments can be directed to MMP@idem.IN.gov.
Local Materials Management Planning
The funded SWIFR project will allow IDEM to provide pass-through funding for local communities and county solid waste management districts to develop local materials management plans based on guidance from the statewide materials management plan.
IDEM expects local plans to:
- Detail the county’s/municipality’s waste and materials management infrastructure (existing and new).
- Define county/municipality or regional needs, goals, and identify possible areas of growth.
- Provide methodology for data collection and reporting.
- Encourage collaboration through partnerships to manage materials that are generated.
IDEM anticipates applications and guidance will be posted mid to late January 2026 and applications will be accepted in February 2026. Continue to check for updates on the page.
Current Updates
December 2025
IDEM is conducting a final review of the Materials Management Draft Plan. When the plan is final, it will be posted to this page.
August 2025
IDEM hosted regional open houses in Seymour, Greenwood, Evansville, South Bend, and Valparaiso in late August and early September regarding improving Indiana’s waste management efforts. The open houses featured updates on the plan’s development, initial findings from statewide surveys and interviews, and the plan components.
July 2025
- IDEM hosted a virtual meeting on July 31, 2025 to provide a progress report on the development of the Indiana State Materials Management Plan (MMP).
- As a reminder, the MMP is being developed to provide a state-wide roadmap to advance post-consumer materials management and decrease the disposal of valuable materials throughout the state. The MMP will affect pre- and post-consumer recyclables, organics, e-waste, textiles, C&D waste, emerging waste streams, and other materials commonly considered waste. The plan will address current materials-management activities while promoting a sustainable materials-management approach which looks at the full life cycle of materials and helps Indiana reach its goal of a 50% recycling rate.
- Interested stakeholders can now view the recording:
June 2025
- Below is a progress report to date, regarding the development of the MMP.
- SURVEY: If you would like to complete the survey and haven’t received the email request, please contact mmp@idem.in.gov and let us know. Since our meeting in April, the project contractor (Eunomia Research and Consulting, Inc.) has been seeking feedback and input from many of you via survey. So far Eunomia has received 23 responses in total from various stakeholder groups including solid waste management districts, waste collectors, recyclers, composters, landfills, and more. If you received a survey and have not yet completed it, please respond by June 20, as your input is integral to the study. Please take 15 minutes to complete the survey today. Your vital participation will enable the project team to fill in gaps in the facilities inventory for Indiana and identify key challenges for stakeholders across the state. The important survey results will be used to better assess data from IDEM’s Re-TRAC reporting, evaluate supporting infrastructure, and provide policy recommendations for sustainable materials management across the state.
- NEXT STEPS: To help round out the findings and fill in crucial information gaps, Eunomia will be conducting interviews with select stakeholders throughout June. Eunomia will also begin developing the draft plan components for IDEM’s internal review. We anticipate hosting another virtual meeting in late July to walk through those draft plan components and collect your input and feedback. Again, we appreciate your input in the MMP development and look forward to sharing more information as the project progresses.
April 2025
- IDEM hosted a virtual meeting to introduce the project on April 23, 2025. At this meeting was shared background on the project with recycling and waste management stakeholders across Indiana. The recording and slide deck from the meeting has been posted below for interested parties to review.
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