(Indianapolis, IN) – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has awarded the 2024 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence to seven recipients during the Indiana Partners for Sustainability’s Annual Conference and Tradeshow in Indianapolis.
The Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence are considered Indiana’s most prestigious environmental recognition awards.
The agency says the awards are reserved for the most innovative, sustainable, and exemplary programs or projects that positively impact Indiana’s environment and demonstrate measurable environmental, economic, and social benefits. The selection process is highly competitive.
Locally, the Dearborn County Solid Waste Management District was honored in the Recycling and Reuse category.
The agency was recognized for having a robust group of reuse programs, including a reuse center for school and craft supplies, a formal dress exchange, a costume exchange, an event décor lending program and a holiday item giveaway.
“The purpose of all of the reuse programs is to divert reusable materials from disposal in landfills while, at the same time, supplying residents with valuable, needed items. The programs help educators in Dearborn County save money on classroom items and provide a place for educators to donate items they no longer need. Meanwhile, local families save money on events and give single-use items, such as costumes, a second life,” IDEM officials said.
Also receiving an award for Recycling and Reuse is the Muncie Sanitary District.
“It’s rare to have multiple awards for a single category, so I am especially proud of this year’s recipients and their dedication to bringing Indiana to the Next Level by creating solutions that impact the quality of life in their communities. Their work forever stands as a true testament to the spirit of Hoosier innovation,” said Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb.
The 2024 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence categories and recipients also include:
- Environmental Education and Outreach
- Dubois Co. Soil and Water Conservation District
- The Vincennes University Jasper Campus Land Stewardship Initiative, a partnership between the Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Vincennes University Jasper Campus, continues to educate farmers and others about increasing crop yield through healthy soil practices.
- Dubois Co. Soil and Water Conservation District
- Five-Year Continuous Improvement
- Eli Lilly and Company (Indianapolis)
- Lilly’s commitment to reducing environmental risk through pollution prevention and sustainability practices and its dedication to continual improvement projects is demonstrated through employee education and internal communication, continuous improvement, innovation, and outreach. The company’s approach has led to reductions in waste, hazardous waste, energy consumption, and costs.
- Eli Lilly and Company (Indianapolis)
- Land Use and Conservation (Two Awards)
- Delta Institute and Hobart Sanitary District
- Delta Institute and the Hobart Sanitary District collaborated on restoring the Duck Creek Tributary, which reduced flooding by decreasing the amount of sediment and increasing the amount of rainwater captured while restoring native plant and animal communities. Outreach activities were done at the local and regional levels to ensure the effectiveness of the project, transparency, and ongoing community support.
- Hendricks Co. Recycling District
- In 2023, the Hendricks County Recycling District built a new recycling center in Lizton on a brownfield site that was previously a filling station. The new facility replaced an unattended but active recycling center in the community that was experiencing increasing levels of misuse and abuse. Now, friendly, active and knowledgeable attendants greet residents, answer questions and enforce the recycling rules to ensure that only those materials that can be recycled are accepted. As a result, contamination is nearly non-existent. Since its grand opening, the Lizton Recycling Center has been visited more than 20,000 times and has collected almost 250 tons of recyclables.
- Delta Institute and Hobart Sanitary District
- Pollution Prevention
- Electro-Spec (Franklin)
- Although Electro-Spec once used trichloroethylene (TCE) in a vacuum vapor environment to safely degrease metals, the chemical can cause environmental issues if not handled properly. Alternative solvents did not have the low surface tension required to clean small parts or work in Electro-Spec’s equipment. The purchase of a new vacuum vapor degreaser allowed Electro-Specto eliminate the use of TCE in their facility and resulted in a three-year cost savings of over $10,000. The machine also helps employees with ergonomic issues by enabling it to be operated without heavy lifting and bending.
- Electro-Spec (Franklin)
The awards were presented as part of Pollution Prevention Week in Indiana. The proclamation signed by Governor Holcomb can be found by clicking here.
IDEM Assistant Commissioner Bob Lugar and Deputy Assistant Commissioner Carl Wodrich presented the awards on the Governor’s behalf.
