Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb issued a proclamation Monday declaring it America Recycles Day in the state.

In partnership with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the proclamation recognized the 24th America Recycles Day, which is a nationally recognized day for businesses, government agencies and individuals to consider the importance of recycling.

More than half of Indiana’s waste goes to landfills or incinerators instead of being recycled, according to a news release from IDEM. America Recycles Day is an opportunity for Hoosiers to increase their recycling efforts and commit to reducing waste, making recycling an everyday habit and buying recycled products.

Recycling continues to grow in Indiana. In 2015, the statewide recycling rate was 12%. In 2020, that number grew to 20%.

Additionally, Indiana diverted more than 1 million tons of recyclables from landfills in 2020. Paper and cardboard represented the largest amount, followed by glass.

To learn more about recycling in Indiana, visit recycle.in.gov. Information about America Recycles Day can be found at americarecyclesday.org.