City of Shelbyville receives recognition from IDEM's Clean Communities Program

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has officially welcomed the City of Shelbyville into its statewide Clean Communities Program at the Bronze Level — a recognition that marks the city’s growing leadership in environmental responsibility and community pride.

Shelbyville is now part of an exclusive group of Indiana cities publicly committing to make measurable improvements in how they care for land, water, and air — through small, steady, community-driven steps. The IDEM Clean Communities program rewards cities that turn good intentions into local action: reducing pollution, cutting waste, conserving green space, and creating healthier places for people to live and work.

Mayor Scott Furgeson said, “This recognition isn’t about checking a box. It’s about showing that Shelbyville is serious about building a cleaner, stronger, more livable community. Our goal is to make the choices today that protect our future.

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Shelbyville earned Bronze-Level status by recognition of several on-going community projects that put these ideas into practice:

• Reducing food waste through Clean Shelby County's composting program that diverts organic material from landfills and cuts harmful methane emissions.

• Establishing the Taylor Street Community Garden, which turns unused land into productive green space and provides fresh produce for local families.

• Passing a local Open Burn Ordinance, limiting unsafe or polluting fires that degrade neighborhood air quality.

• Expanding the free Bike Share program, promoting clean transportation and reducing short car trips that contribute to local emissions.

These actions are more than environmental—they’re economic and practical. Cleaner air means fewer asthma attacks and lower healthcare costs. Less waste means lower landfill fees and smarter use of taxpayer dollars. More green space means higher property values, stronger neighborhoods, and a better quality of life for residents.

As part of the Clean Communities framework, Shelbyville will continue tracking progress, reporting outcomes to IDEM, and identifying new opportunities to advance to Silver and Gold levels in the coming years. IDEM also provides the city with access to technical expertise, grant opportunities, and peer-to-peer collaboration with other Indiana communities working toward similar goals.

“This recognition validates the work our staff, partners, and residents are already doing — and it challenges us to do even more,” said Jenna Martin, Director of Public Relations for the City of Shelbyville. “Clean communities don’t just happen. They’re built — one project, one partnership, one decision at a time.