Sec. 1. (a) There is established a central Indiana waste diversion project for the following purposes:

(1) Determining the most practical and effective means of:

(A) addressing domestic supply chain disruptions that result in:

(i) scarcity of raw materials necessary for manufacturing and other industries in Indiana;

(ii) increased prices of those raw materials; and

(iii) manufacturing delays, employment fluctuations, and stagnant growth;

(B) preventing the unnecessary disposal of potentially valuable recyclable materials in landfills and waste incinerators;

(C) stimulating economic development, including the:

(i) creation of employment opportunities throughout Indiana; and

(ii) market development through the reuse of recyclable materials by diverting the materials from waste streams throughout the project area for commercial reuse;

(D) advancing research and development to enhance existing waste diversion efforts and support the creation of new processes and technologies that expand upon the existing universe of waste diversion and reuse of recyclable material; and

(E) supporting recycling technology or programs that:

(i) involve the return, collection, and sorting of recyclable glass, aluminum, or plastic beverage containers;

(ii) are accessible to the general public; and

(iii) are operated by a retail merchant (as described in IC 6-2.5-4-1), a professional sports or entertainment venue, an airport, a school for students between kindergarten and grade 12, or an institution of higher education.

(2) Determining the feasibility of expansion of the waste diversion program throughout Indiana by analyzing data provided by project participants to the department to measure the success of the project in:

(A) diverting waste from landfills and incinerators; and

(B) providing valuable raw materials for manufacturing and other Indiana industries.

(3) Determining the potential for future market development.

     (b) The project established under this section shall be limited to applicants located in Marion County during the first round of grants. Following the completion of the first round of grants, the project shall be expanded for a second round of grants. Applicants located in the following counties shall be eligible to receive grants during the second round:

(1) Marion.

(2) Hamilton.

(3) Hancock.

(4) Shelby.

(5) Johnson.

(6) Morgan.

(7) Hendricks.

(8) Boone.

     (c) An applicant who is eligible to participate in the project established under this section must demonstrate direct connectivity in diversion of valuable raw materials for procurement to identified Indiana based end markets as a commodity.

     (d) The project established under this section shall commence upon the:

(1) approval of the proposals submitted under this chapter; and

(2) award of funds necessary to implement the project.

The duration of the project may not exceed four (4) years after the date that the project commences.

     (e) The project established under this section shall commence a second round of grants within one (1) year after the first round of grants are awarded to the selected projects. Applicants selected for a grant during the first round of grants may apply for a grant during the second round of grants.

     (f) Grant applicants seeking funding from the project established under this section must provide a financial match, as determined by the Indiana recycling market development board under IC 4-23-5.5-7, to receive funding.

As added by P.L.120-2022, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.153-2023, SEC.2.