Governor Eric Holcomb issued a proclamation declaring November 15 America Recycles Day in Indiana. In partnership with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the proclamation recognizes America Recycles Day, which is the only nationally recognized day in the U.S. serving as a reminder of the importance of recycling, the announcement said, and raising awareness about the value of reducing, reusing and recycling – recognizing the economic, environmental, and social benefits of recycling and promoting a circular economy.
IDEM says more than half of Indiana’s waste goes to landfills or incinerators instead of being recycled and America Recycles Day serves to remind Hoosiers to increase recycling efforts and commit to reducing waste, making recycling an everyday habit, and buying recycled products. A news release said recycling is growing in Indiana. The statewide recycling rate was 12% in 2015 and increased to 20% in 2022. Additionally, Indiana diverted more than one-million tons of commodity recyclables (glass, metals, paper, plastics) from landfills in 2022. Paper and cardboard represented the largest amount of material diverted, followed by glass.
To learn more about recycling in Indiana, visit recycle.IN.gov . More information about America Recycles Day can be found at americarecyclesday.org . Follow IDEM @IDEMNews on Twitter and Instagram for tips to “Reduce Your Use.”