AUGUST 2023 MATERIAL MATTERS NEWSLETTER |
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Member Spotlight: City of Lockport |
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City of Lockport is located just 30 miles southwest of Chicago, established in 1830 and currently home to just over 26,000 residents. They have been working to improve an already inviting downtown, with EV Charging stations, easy access to the Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail, bike rental and a variety of initiatives to improve the environment. The city offers a comprehensive curbside recycling program, encourages backyard composting and the use of rain barrels to reduce the use of potable water for landscaping. The city also encourages textile recycling, is a Tree City designated community, and is about to launch a residential native plantings program.
Lockport has also been a leader on hazardous material issues. In early 2020, the Illinois Senate introduced SB 2954, the Coal Tar Sealant Disclosure Act. Subsequently, Lockport City Council passed Resolution No. 20-111 banning the sale, use, and application of coal-tar based products containing dangerous polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The State reintroduced its bill and passed it in 2021.
Since 2007 the City of Lockport has partnered with Will County to offer electronics recycling and a traditional recycling drop-off at their Public Works facility. In 2021, they also added home collection of Household Hazardous Waste to their curbside waste contract.
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Suggest an IRF Webinar Topic or Speaker |
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Dozens of Webinars are available on our YouTube Channel. We encourage all our members to subscribe to our channel! We are also looking for member suggestions and assistance with organizing future webinars. Please email us at
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Republic Services is moving deeper into plastics processing, launching a $350 million joint venture with a global polymers expert to produce recycled pellet at four US facilities. Republic announced the partnership with Europe-based plastics production and distribution company Ravago. The companies' Blue Polymers venture will be backed by a joint investment of $350 million, with that money being used to build four facilities in several regions of the US. Read more...
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On August 9 LRS (formerly Lakeshore Recycling Systems) announced the grand opening of The Exchange, a state-of-the-art material recovery facility (MRF) revolutionizing waste management and recycling practices. The new facility is located in the Stockyards neighborhood of Chicago, just southwest of the intersection of Rt. 90 and Rt. 55. As a part of LRS' 25 acre parcel, the MRF is equipped to handle various types of waste, including single-stream recyclables, non-hazardous and non-special Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), along with other recyclable materials. It uses cutting-edge sorting equipment, including six optical sorters, a CP Auger Screen and three Fire Rover Units. The Exchange is projected to divert 224 million pounds of recyclables annually, resulting in thousands of tons of avoided CO2 emissions.
The Exchange has not only made significant strides in environmental sustainability, but has also made a positive economic impact on the community. The facility has created over 50 new permanent positions and generated 95 construction jobs. Additionally, it supplies viable recyclable materials to numerous mills in the Midwest, contributing to regional economic development. To learn more about how LRS is serving the residents of Chicago, along with many others, and see a map of where recyclables are marketed, please visit the City of Chicago's Blue Cart story page, put together with LRS for the City of Chicago's educational efforts.
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HELP US CELEBRATE YOU
You can show off in a press release or simply show us your everyday operation. Either way, we can utilize your photos on social media and on our website. We are asking IRF Members to send photos of their recycling and collection operations. Pictures can be of office collection, residential drop-off, MRF sorting lines, curbside service, someone placing items in recycle bins, reuse events, compost operations, etc. Please send jpeg/jpg pictures to info@illinoisrecycles.org.
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Legislative Update from IRA
A detailed special announcement was sent earlier this month just after Governor Pritzker signed the Paint Stewardship Act. The law establishes a manufacturer funded paint collection, recycling and proper disposal program to be offered throughout the state of Illinois by Jan. 1, 2025.
The State Entities Single-Use Plastic Reporting Act, signed by Governor Pritzker earlier this month requires state agencies track single-use plastic disposable foodware and to reduce the use of single-use plastics by 50% on or before 2031 and by 75% on or before 2036. This amendment to the Degradable Plastic Act, SB 58, was championed by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview). Supporters of this legislation included the Illinois Environmental Council, Environmental Illinois, League of Women Voters Chicago, Sierra Club, Illinois PIRG, and more. Press stated that the act is meant to prioritize sustainability and reduce waste by banning some foodware polystyrene. It will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
Reuse of containers by consumers was championed when HB 2086 was signed into law by the Governor. These amendments to the IL Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, effective immediately, allow restaurants and retailers to fill or refill clean consumer-owned containers with dry bulk food and ready-made food. It further directs the Department of Public Health to produce materials for restaurants and retailers on or before January 1, 2024 indicating that consumer-owned containers are not prohibited for use under Illinois law and specifying best practices to meet food safety requirements when filling consumer-owned containers.
Use of reusable water bottles was given a boost when SB 1715 was signed into law, requiring all new buildings over 5,000 sqft required to have drinking fountains to also have water bottle refilling stations.
Composting was encouraged by amendments to the IL Environmental Protection Act contained in HB 3277, which allows for limited sales of finished compost from farm-based composting facilities and community gardens that are exempt from landscape waste composting operation permit requirements. Further, a component of HB 2878 requires state and local governments to consider the use of compost during the bid process for landscape maintenance contracts.
Although legislation calling for a comprehensive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach to all packaging and paper products did not pass, the parties involved agreed to create the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Act, which is signed into law. With direction from various stakeholders the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with drafting, amendment, and finalization of the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment. On or before January 1, 2024, the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency shall appoint members to an Advisory Council to provide advice and recommendations to the Agency in the development of the needs assessment. The Act requires that persons with data or information needed to complete the statewide needs assessment shall provide the Agency with such data or information in a timely fashion to assist in its completion. IEPA is required to issue a competitive solicitation to select a qualified consultant to conduct a statewide needs assessment to assess recycling needs in the State for packaging and paper products, including identifying current conditions and an evaluation of the capacity, costs, gaps, and needs associated with recycling and the diversion of packaging and paper products. On or before December 1, 2026, the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council is expected to prepare and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor, which shall include an opportunity for a minority report.
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A Note from the IRF President, Clair Ryan
It's back to school season! Even for those of us who are not in school, I find this time of year provides a great opportunity to shake off the summer sunburn and to refocus on the work ahead. It's a great time to reinvigorate, strengthen existing networks, make connections with new colleagues, and collectively get our "eyes on the prize," which in the case of IRF is a healthy and productive Illinois recycling sector that prevents waste every day.
In the spirit of "back to school," IRF is refocusing its efforts for the time being on a slimmer roster of standing committees that help drive the work of the organization. We're asking all IRF members and friends to take a look at these reinvigorated committees, described below, and to sign up to participate in one or two that provide the best match to interest, time and talent. We're hoping to schedule fall kick-off meetings next month, so please sign up ASAP! I look forward to working with you and can be reached for questions or for conversation at ryanclair@kane.co.il.us or (630) 208-3841.
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Thank You to Our 2023 Benefactors!
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Consider adding your logo here. Become a 2023 BENEFACTOR for $2000.
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NEW COMMITTEES - JOIN NOW! |
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At the August IRF Board meeting, the Board approved a restructuring of IRF's standing committees with a goal of boosting participation and refocusing on core organizational strengths and functions. Below is a list of the new committees along with a description for each. Please review the committee descriptions and choose to join one or more as your time and talent allows! Fill out the form here or send your choices to executivedirector@illinoisrecycles.org.
Standing Committees
Executive Committee
A leadership committee that establishes organizational goals, establishes committee structure and responsibilities, consults on staff performance and accomplishments, conducts periodic review of IRF By-laws.
Membership: Board President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Meeting Frequency: No less frequently than quarterly.
Membership Committee
Members are the heart of IRF! The Membership Committee helps ensure that our membership is broadly representative of all areas of recycling and waste reduction in Illinois by identifying gaps in membership, and developing & implementing strategies to fill any gaps. The Membership Committee works closely with IRF staff and the greater Board of Directors to develop a membership drive each fall. It also helps maintain the current membership roster, and is instrumental in helping ensure that IRF's work aligns well with member needs.
Meeting Frequency: No less frequently than quarterly - more frequently during Membership Drive planning.
Communications & Education
Given the nature of IRF as an educational foundation, the Communications & Education Committee (CEC) is understandably an important crew! The CEC works with staff to develop the contents of IRF's monthly newsletter, press releases, the IRF website, and social media posts. It also helps to develop and plan our educational webinars and online professional forums, covering a broad range of critical topics in the recycling space. Due to its broad purview, it is likely that the CEC will form subcommittees to focus on specific projects.
Meeting Frequency: Monthly.
Events/Conference
The Events and Conference Committee will help drive the planning of IRF's premiere event - it's annual conference (date TBD, likely June 2024). It is also encouraged to develop a smaller fall event, such as an in-person tour. The Events Committee will help develop a compelling technical content, fun social events, networking boosters, and the exhibit hall for the conference. It will work with the Communications and Education Committee to promote planned events.
Meeting Frequency: Monthly and as needed based on event planning schedule.
Legislative
The legislative interests of IRF are carried out by IRA, which is a separately chartered organization. When possible, the Board shall appoint a Director who is jointly serving both IRF and IRA as a liaison. Otherwise, this role shall be served by staff.
Nominating
Cultivates and solicits leadership from the general membership. Presents a slate of candidates to the full Board.
Membership: Three Directors appointed by the full Board (in Spring, prior to June membership meeting at the annual conference)
Meeting Frequency: Monthly for the quarter prior to elections.
Ad Hoc
To the extent that Directors are interested in chairing them and members are interested in attending, ad hoc committees may be formed to discuss recycling of specific materials, specific cross-cutting problems, or other topical or short-term interests.
Membership: Chaired by a Board Director, membership may include Directors and general members and non-members as the topic dictates.
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Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signs bill requiring restaurants and other businesses to stop using polystyrene containers by 2025.
Oregon Senate Bill 543 bans food vendors from serving meals in containers made of polystyrene foam and prohibits businesses from using or selling foam packing peanuts or single-use foam coolers. Supporters of this bill pointed out that foam products aren’t accepted by curbside recycling programs. The bill also bans vendors from using containers that include PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals,” that can make material like cardboard resistant to grease. It does not affect the use of some Styrofoam containers, including the packaging used to ship and store food that has not been prepared to eat, like egg cartons. The bill imposes fines ranging from $100 to $500 per day for those who distribute banned products.
Oregon is the 10th state to enact a ban on certain polystyrene foam products. Maryland was the first in 2019, followed by Maine, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Virginia, Washington, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C.
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Eight family members who run recycling centers in Riverside County, California, face felony charges in connection to a $7.6 million multistate recycling fraud investigation. Agents believe the suspects illegally smuggled 178 tons of empty beverage containers from Arizona into Riverside County to defraud California’s Beverage Container Recycling Program, California Department of Justice (DOJ) says.
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The city of High Point, North Carolina, received a $50,000 grant from the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Foam Recycling Coalition (FRC) that enables the city’s 117,000 residents to recycle materials such as foam polystyrene cups, plates, bowls, clamshells, egg cartons and meat trays, as well as block packaging foam. The FRC grant assisted with funding the purchase and installation of a foam densifier at the High Point Material Recovery Facility (MRF). Densifiers are used to compact foam products into foam blocks or ingots. The city sells the foam ingots to end markets to be manufactured into thermal insulation panels for foundations, walls and roofs. Learn more about High Point’s journey and about the grant program: https://www.recyclefoam.org/high-point-nc
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BECOME AN NRC BOARD MEMBER!
NRC is looking for current and future Recycling Leaders to serve on NRC’s Board. The volunteer NRC
Board oversees the NRC and its activities, meets monthly, and expects Board members to serve on a
committee. This is your chance to help guide this national organization dedicated to recycling and
diversion.
You are eligible if you’ve been a member of NRC for at least one year. Many State Recycling Organizations (SROs) are also NRC members, and their members would qualify. (Members of Illinois Recyling Foundation are members of NRC.)
To nominate yourself, send a brief summary of why you’re interested and a resume to Bob Gedert robert.gedert@gmail.com. Include contact information. Also contact Bob if you have questions. Nominations are accepted from August 1 through September 15, 2023.
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NRC Annual Awards – Nominations Time - Action!
It's time to nominate our peers and leaders in our industry to be recognized for their great work and achievements in the recycling industry. Awards presentations will be December 5th and 6th at the NRC’s National Recycling Congress.
Applications are accepted online from August 1 through October 1, 2023 (11:59pm Eastern time)
Instructions: To nominate a program or person for an award, do your best to describe the worthiness of the nominee clearly and succinctly. Prepare a word document with a 100-word short summary and 250 or fewer words with supporting evidence of why the winner is outstanding in field. Then copy these two write-ups into the survey monkey nomination form (link below). Fill out your contact info and the nominee’s contact info. That’s IT! No brochures or other attachments or material will be accepted. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NRCAwards2023
Categories: Here are the award categories. Composting, diversion, and reduction programs are included.
- Lifetime Achievement in Recycling
- Bill Heenan Emerging Leader Award
- Outstanding Recycling Innovation
- Outstanding Recycling Organization
- Outstanding Corporate Leadership
- Outstanding Not-for-profit Business Leadership
- Outstanding Community or Government Program
- Outstanding Elected Leader
- Outstanding Public Education / Outreach Program
- Outstanding Market Development
- Outstanding Minority Leadership (business or individual)
- Outstanding Higher Education Award (note the criteria for this award focus on tech development/transfer, student training, and workforce links, not campus collection programs)
Questions? Contact the NRC Awards Committee Chair, Lisa Skumatz 360-261-3069 or email at skumatz@serainc.com.
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Educational Opportunities |
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Upcoming Webinar: Making the Case for Reuse & Waste Prevention
Wednesday September 6, 2023
1:00PM E.T
Free
How does one sell a group on the idea of reuse and waste prevention practices? With the general public being conditioned to a care-free consumption system, how do we move past this train of thought? Featuring panelists from three different NGO’s, this webinar looks to educate on how to advance reuse and waste prevention in one’s local community.
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The National Zero Waste Conference is an annual two-day virtual educational and networking event organized by Zero Waste USA and their partners. Zero Waste Businesses & Institutions is the focus on Wednesday, October 25 and Zero Waste Communities on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
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What: "Iowa DNR & U.S. EPA Grant Funding Opportunities" Virtual Event
When: September 6, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
Register: Register to attend this virtual event at this link.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have brought about unprecedented funding opportunities managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7. From the BIL, IRA, and other statewide grant programs, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a variety of funding programs currently available and to become available soon. This virtual event will provide an overview of funding opportunities available to Iowa, including government and public entities, non-profits, schools, and public-private partnerships.
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Possible Grant Opportunities |
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Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation supports non-profit organizations to promote environmental causes and aid in sustainable development, environmental justice, and environmental education. Link: https://bit.ly/2HwUx0K
Patagonia Environmental Grant seeks environmental organizations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change. Eligible entities for recycling grants include any organization that is action-oriented, builds public involvement, and works to build an inclusive and diverse environmental movement. Link: https://urlzs.com/Mk7k1
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MEMBERS WITH EMPLOYMENT NEEDS
Cook County has a range of job openings, visit their Jobs page.
Republic Services has a range of openings, visit their career webpage.
We encourage all readers to visit the IRF Membership Directory and find member's websites to see their job listings. We post employment opportunities for members at no additional fee. SEND US YOUR JOB POSTINGS.
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"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."
– Chief Seattle, 1854
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FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
@illinoisrecycles
FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN
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Illinois Recycling Foundation / Illinois Recycling Association, PO Box 411, Geneva IL 60134
708 358 0050
info@illinoisrecycles.org
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