Dearborn Co. Recycling Center Receives 2024 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence

The organization received the award for its robust group of reuse programs.

Photo provided.

(Aurora, Ind.) - On Tuesday, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) 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 Dearborn County Solid Waste Management District, also known as the Dearborn County Recycling Center, received an award for the category of Recycling and Reuse.

The Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence are Indiana’s most prestigious environmental recognition awards. They 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.

The Dearborn County Solid Waste Management District received the award for its 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.

The 2024 Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence categories and recipients include:

Environmental Education and Outreach

• Dubois Co. Soil and Water Conservation District

Five-Year Continuous Improvement

• Lilly and Company (Indianapolis, Ind.)

Land Use and Conservation (Two Awards)

• Delta Institute and Hobart Sanitary District
• Hendricks Co. Recycling District

Pollution Prevention

• Electro-Spec (Franklin, Ind.)

Recycling and Reuse (Two Awards)

• Dearborn County Solid Waste Management District
• 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 J. Holcomb.

The awards were presented as part of Pollution Prevention Week in Indiana. A copy of the proclamation, signed by Governor Holcomb, is available on IDEM’s website. IDEM Assistant Commissioner Bob Lugar and Deputy Assistant Commissioner Carl Wodrich presented the awards on the Governor’s behalf. Julie Robinson, Reuse Coordinator, and Stefanie Hoffmeier, Educator/Outreach Coordinator, accepted the award on Tuesday in Indianapolis for the Dearborn County Solid Waste District.

For more information about the Dearborn County Recycling Center’s services and programs, visit www.dearborncountyrecycles.com. More information about IDEM and the Governor’s Awards can be found at www.in.gov/idem/newsroom/press-releases/