Challenge

In 2019, the City of Indianapolis launched Thrive Indianapolis, the City’s first sustainability and resilience plan to address the threats posed by climate change. The comprehensive plan charted “a course for an Indianapolis that is equitable, healthier and prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.” The overarching goal of the Plan is to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Recognizing that climate change will affect all elements of society, the City focused Thrive Indianapolis on eight actionable topics: the Built Environment, the Economy, Energy, Food and Agriculture, Natural Resources, Public Health and Safety, Transportation and Land Use, and Waste and Recycling. The Plan includes two objectives for each of these elements. For Waste and Recycling, the objectives are to support a “reduce first” approach and to increase community-wide waste diversion.

Solutions

To support the City’s objectives for waste and recycling, GLA team members assisted with development of a waste minimization plan addressing curbside recycling and organics composting, two strategies identified in Thrive Indianapolis). We prepared a study that included research of waste quantities generated by the City, a cost-of-service analysis of the City’s existing solid waste program, an economic evaluation of potential future recycling and composting enhancements, an education and outreach plan, a triple-bottom line analysis, and an implementation plan.

Our team also assisted the City with procurement of solid waste services, including solid waste collection, recyclables processing, composting and disposal.

Results

GLA’s work directly supports the City’s waste and recycling-specific objectives in support of its “reduce first” approach, and increasing community-wide waste diversion.