Curbside recycling is coming to Indianapolis. Here’s when how it will work

Curbside recycling is coming to all residents of Indianapolis, but collections won’t start until 2028.

The city’s Board of Public Works announced the recycling service is part of new contract with Lakeshore Recycling Systems, which will oversee solid waste collections for the city.

Lakeshore Recycling will begin servicing Indianapolis at the beginning of next year for residents who have their trash removed by vendors other than the city crews. The Indianapolis Department of Public Works will continue serving its own solid waste districts.

Curbside recycling comes to Indy

The new contract with Lakeshore will provide city residents with universal curbside recycling in 2028, and materials will be processed at a newly-constructed facility. No comprehensive, curbside service is currently available in the city.

“This is the culmination of a years-long process as Indy DPW and the Office of Sustainability sought out comprehensive services at a fair rate for Indianapolis taxpayers,” Indy DPW acting Director Todd Wilson said in the news release.

Here’s what residents need to know

Indy residents will continue to receive their residential trash collection at the existing set-out locations.

Closer to the start of the new contract with Lakeshore, residents will get new, branded trash carts. The city will own these bins at the end of the contract.

Residents will be able to purchase a second cart from current vendors for $65, and those who already have a second cart can keep it until further guidance is offered closer to the beginning of the new contract.

IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social