IDEM to Host Open Houses on State’s Materials Management Plan Development

INDIANAPOLIS – IDEM will host a series of regional open houses to share information as part of the process in developing Indiana’s State Materials Management Plan (MMP). The plan will serve as an anchor for the vision and infrastructure of materials management in the state. The MMP will replace the state’s Solid Waste plan, which dates back to 1990 and focused primarily on traditional recycling and waste disposal. When complete, Indiana’s new MMP will focus on a more sustainable materials management approach that includes better access to recycling, organics management, and waste reduction. The plan will also address strategies to help Indiana reach its goal of a 50% recycling rate and include the management of a wide range of waste materials such as: recyclables, organics, e-waste, textiles, construction and demolition debris, and emerging waste streams. “Indiana’s existing Solid Waste Management Plan was centered on disposal and basic waste handling,” said IDEM Commissioner Clint Woods. “Today, we need a forward-looking plan that reflects 35 years of innovation, shifting markets, and evolving environmental priorities. These open houses are an opportunity for Hoosiers to explore new strategies for boosting recycling and to see how building a circular economy can strengthen Indiana’s economic future.” The open houses will feature updates on the plan’s development, initial findings from statewide surveys and interviews, and the plan components. Open house attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the process, ask questions, and provide feedback. IDEM representatives will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback that will shape the final plan. Attendees are encouraged to visit on.IN.gov/idem2025mmp before attending a meeting to learn more about the discovery phase of the MMP process, which was completed earlier this year.  Wednesday, Aug. 27Jackson County Public Library Conference Room 303 W 2nd St Seymour, IN 47274 2 p.m.–6 p.m. ET  Wednesday, Sept. 3 Johnson County Public Library  Clark Pleasant Branch Conference Room 350 Clearwater Blvd Whiteland, IN 46184 3 p.m.–7 p.m. ET Tuesday, Sept. 9Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Browning Event Room A 200 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Evansville, IN 47713 3 p.m.–7 p.m. CT  Wednesday, Sept. 10 St. Joseph County Public Library Tutt Branch 2223 Miami St. South Bend, IN 46613 2 p.m.–6:30 p.m. ET  Thursday, Sept. 11 Porter County Public Library Valparaiso Branch – Meeting Room B 103 Jefferson St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 3 p.m.–7 p.m. CT The MMP initiative is funded by the U.S. EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program.