Indiana’s Recycling Market Development Program (RMDP), administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, awarded five organizations with $3.7 million in funding to expand recycling projects in Central Indiana through the Central Indiana Waste Diversion Project (CIWDP). Below is a list of recipients and their award amounts:
- American Metals – Awarded $911,519 toward the purchase of equipment that will disassemble and process magnets, batteries and ferrous metals from items including EV motors, power tools, and windmill turbines. The process will separate and conserve valuable critical and rare earth elements for future use in manufacturing. At full capacity, the lines would process 3,000 tons of battery material and 12,000 tons of magnet material annually. Currently, most waste of this type is shipped overseas for processing.
- Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), Indiana, Inc. – Awarded $1,000,000 to expand their solar panel collection opportunities. ERI will purchase proprietary solar panel recycling equipment that will allow safe dismantling and improved material recovery for a wide variety of solar panels. At the current rate of solar panel waste generation, the project will recycle an additional 250 tons annually.
- Heidelberg Materials Inc. – Awarded $500,000 to implement the “ConcreteCycle Indiana” project through the purchase of a closed-circuit plant and conveyors. This innovative concrete and rebar recycling project is designed to prevent the unnecessary disposal of valuable construction materials by diverting 75,000 tons of the material annually.
- Indiana Oxygen Company – Awarded $500,000 to purchase excavating, powder handling, and drying equipment to process calcium hydroxide (lime) waste by-product material from the company’s holding pond. The dry product would then be provided to high-demand industries including Indiana farmers, power plants, wastewater treatment plants, highway departments, and others. The holding pond has the potential to recover 74,000 tons of waste byproduct.
- Republic Services – Awarded $788,481 to purchase an optical sorter for PET plastic, which is commonly used for beverage bottles. The equipment would enhance sorting accuracy and handle increased volumes of all plastic material types received at the facility. The new equipment is anticipated to divert an additional 410 tons of plastic material annually.
The CIWDPP was established in 2022 by HEA 1226 to determine the most practical and effective means of diverting recyclable materials from waste streams for the purpose of commercial reuses.
The projects demonstrate direct connectivity in diversion of valuable raw materials for procurement to identified Indiana end markets as a commodity. As a result, these projects will benefit Indiana’s economy through increased infrastructure for recycling, job creation, and helping to solve local supply chain and production issues. Upon completion of the projects, they will serve as examples that can be replicated throughout the state.
Published May 2025