The history of solid waste regulations in Indiana began in 1953, when the General Assembly authorized the Board of Commissioners of any county to adopt ordinances for the protection of public health. The act specifically mentions the disposal of garbage and rubbish on any land outside town or city limits.
A ban on open burning of waste followed in 1969, which prompted the beginning of the permitted landfill era. Landfill owners/operators were required to send in minimal information for new disposal sites. Starting in 1969 those landfills then were issued an approval letter. The first modern landfill permits were issued in 1974.
Landfill Disposal Records
The Indiana Stream Pollution Control Board Regulation (SPC-18), Section 14 states: “The disposal of hazardous and special wastes must conform to the following: (a) Under no circumstances shall hazardous wastes be accepted at a sanitary landfill unless authorized in writing by the Board or its designated solid waste management agents.”
Rule SPC-18 [PDF] became effective on August 15, 1974, before RCRA hazardous waste rules became effective, and contained the following definition: “'Hazardous Wastes' means any solid or liquid waste with inherent dangers, including but not limited to, toxic chemicals, explosives, pathological wastes, radioactive materials, materials likely to cause fires, liquids, semi-liquids, sludges containing less than thirty percent solids, pesticides, pesticide containers, raw animal manure, septic tank pumpings, and raw or digested sewage sludge.”
The State Board of Health tracked disposal of these pre-RCRA “hazardous wastes” [PDF] in sanitary landfills from 1975 to 1986.
Solid Waste District Plans
In 1980 Indiana published its first Solid Waste Management Plan [PDF], as required by the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, as a prerequisite for continued funding by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for state solid waste management programs.
In 1990 the Indiana General Assembly passed Public Law 10-1990. This legislation made sweeping changes in existing state solid waste law, including creating solid waste management districts. Each of Indiana’s 92 counties (except for Marion) was to have a district or be part of a multi-county one. The districts had a number of responsibilities. For example, they were to develop regional or county solid waste management plans, with guidance from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). IDEM was to provide policy guidance on source reduction and alternatives to dependence on final disposal facilities. The result was Indiana ‘s 20-year Solid Waste Management Plan.
Since June 30, 2017, Solid Waste Management Districts are no longer mandatory (IC 13-21-3-1).
In 2017 Indiana also amended its Solid Waste Management plan to include Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR).
- CCR Plan Transmittal Letter [PDF]
- CCR Solid Waste Management Plan Amendment [PDF]
- CCR Solid Waste Management Plan Response to Comments [PDF]
IDEM offers more information on solid waste management districts which includes how to find your local district and an education guidebook.