Elected officials from the mid-western state of Indiana are looking to have a legally mandated recycling goal of fifty percent approved and voted on later this year. The ruling would apply to all counties in the state and include both residences and businesses.

The Indiana Senate and House of Representative recently passed a bill that would establish a mandated recycling goal of a minimum of fifty percent for all municipal waste collected in the state. While the bill has not yet been signed into law by Indiana Governor Mike Pence, he is expected to as he has voiced support for the bill. Additionally, the bill is also endorsed by the state’s Recycling Coalition which would be involved in the implementation of increased waste recycling efforts. If signed into law, the new recycling goal would also have data reporting requirements and benchmark reporting to ensure all sectors are participating.

The elected representatives who support the bill say the increase in Indiana’s recyling rate will help to conserve energy, create new jobs, and help to protect the state’s environment and quality of life for residents and businesses. Additionally, many manufacturers both small and large that operate in the state, have supported the bill as a cost effective way to source valuable recycled materials needed in their production processes.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If you look at recycling as a smart business decision you’ll never look at it as a difficult task – in fact, once you get the recycling “bug” you’ll be looking for more and more ways to save money, make money, and help your community through increased recycling and decreased waste disposal. Why through valuable material in the trash when it can be used by another business or community group?