IRC, as an organization, takes a position on a regulatory or legislative issues relating to source reduction, reuse or recycling only after a careful consensus-reaching process has been completed.  Click here for a complete copy of the procedures for consideration and approval of Advocacy positions.   Anyone may submit an advocacy proposal to the IRC.  To assure that proposals for advocacy position are complete and consistent, all proposals must be submitted on the IRC's Advocacy Proposal Form.

Indiana's yard waste ban and methane recovery exemption (1995)
*The Indiana Recycling Coalition supports a ban on all yard waste from Indiana landfills.
*The Indiana Recycling Coalition supports the repeal of the methane recovery exemption from the Indiana yard waste ban.

HEA 1339 and IDEM's policy to develop nonrule policies (1997)
*The Indiana Recycling Coalition supports the procedures that were used by IDEM in developing the non-rule policy and agrees that the process provided all stakeholders the ability to comment.
*The Indiana Recycling Coalition supports the new non-rule policy for IDEM's source reduction and recycling grants program, as it relates to HEA 1339.

IDEM's grants for businesses and state government (1997)
*The Indiana Recycling Coalition agrees that the eligibility requirements for business grants should remain the same as those requirements currently in place, as of November, 1997.
*The Indiana Recycling Coalition agrees that state agencies should have access to IDEM grants.

The role of Indiana's solid waste management districts (1999)
Solid Waste Management Districts are an essential part of the State of Indiana's efforts to reach waste diversion goals.  Districts provide the framework for the development of source reduction, reuse, recycling and composting programs.  These programs are the fundamental tools for accomplishing the goals mandated in HEA 1240.

Electronics (2002)
*The IRC supports proper end-of-life management of electronics within the state as an important priority for the protection of the environment and public health in Indiana communities.
*The IRC supports electronics end-of-life management as a high priority on the national, state and local levels.
*The IRC supports a funding mechanism to offset the financial burden of electronics end-of-life programs to Indiana communities.
*The IRC supports a strategy for electronics end-of-life management that embraces the full waste management hierarchy of reduction, reuse and recycling.
*The IRC supports long-term producer responsibility to encourage electronic product
manufacturers to design, manufacture, and distribute products that contain a minimum of hazardous material and are as reusable and recyclable as possible.

Electronics (2004)
The Indiana Recycling Coalition is leading the E-Scrap Action Program (ESAP). ESAP is a project that targets electronics waste (e-scrap) as a major priority for waste management in the state of Indiana, because this waste stream can be hazardous to the environment and costly to manage.  The initial phase of this successful process resulted in a series of preliminary recommendations from a multi-stakeholder group. The recommendations present ways in which the state can address the issue of e-scrap from policy, regulatory, legislative and educational perspectives. The recommendations fall into six interrelated areas: Public education, Funding mechanisms, Landfill/incinerator disposal ban, Prison Partnerships, Procurement, and Asset Management.

Solid Waste Management Districts (February, 2005)
It is the position of the Indiana Recycling Coalition that solid waste management districts are an essential part of the state of Indiana's efforts to reach waste diversion goals. Districts provide the framework for the development of source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting programs. District programs are the fundamental tools for conserving natural resources and accomplishing the waste diversion goals established in House Enrolled Act 1240.

Solid Waste Management Districts are important to the state of Indiana because:

·         Districts (individually, or in cooperative endeavors) are largely responsible for developing and managing collection/recycling programs for household hazardous wastes, used motor oil, Freon containing appliances, batteries, mercury and mercury containing devices, and more. District programs are essential to protect the health of humans and the environment against the health hazards that are created if waste is not recycled or disposed of properly.

·         Districts are managed by local elected officials who comprise district boards, which ensures that all citizens have a voice in solid waste management decisions in their locale.

·         Districts provide the structure to implement programs, enforce the associated laws and rules, and provide the education needed on the local level in order to avoid negative environmental impacts. Without solid waste districts, the state does not have the resources to do so.

·         Since their inception, solid waste districts have proven to be vehicles for the development of new companies and jobs. Feed stocks acquired by recycling programs are critical in the manufacturing of recycled content products. Districts have provided key technical assistance in coordinating efforts between start up businesses, those wanting to locate in Indiana, and the Indiana Departments of Environmental Management and Commerce.

·         Districts help support the overall economy in Indiana, including the recycling and reuse industry that employs 75,000 people in the state, offers $19 billion in revenue, and $285 million in state government tax revenue annually. (2001 Indiana Recycling Economic Information (REI) Study, prepared for the Indiana Department of Commerce)