Welcome to this month’s newsletter from the Illinois Recycling Association (IRA) and Illinois Recycling Foundation (IRF). We’re dedicated to keeping you informed on the latest sustainability efforts, upcoming events, and ways you can get involved in promoting responsible recycling in Illinois.

If you haven't yet, please renew your IRF membership for calendar year 2025! Current members looking to renew online will need to log into the website with their existing account. If you have trouble logging in, please call 708-847-0827 or email info@illinoisrecycles.org.

All American Recycling is a full-service scrap metal recycling and waste-management company that accepts sheet iron, plate & structural, auto cast including rotors, brake drums and springs. Their team of experts specializes in recycling all ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Among others, this includes copper, aluminum, steel, and lead.  They offer drop-off, pick-up, and demolition processing services for both businesses and individuals. 

As All American Recycling points out, the Earth does not have a limitless supply of metal.  Mining for naturally existing ores takes a great deal of time, effort, and money and depletes the natural supplies.  Recycling and repurposing all waste metal is critical in order to lessen our reliance on new ores and protect our natural resources. Furthermore, the scrap metal sector benefits our local economies by creating employment and supporting a variety of community programs.  The process is:

Collection—Scrap metal must first be collected. Scrap metal is not thrown in landfills because of its worth; instead, it is sold to scrap yards for recycling. Vehicle scrap is the most frequent type of scrap metal, although it may also originate from construction and plumbing scrap, railroad refuse, and farm scrap. 

Sorting—After the scrap metal has been collected, it is categorized by kind. Large magnetic sensors are frequently used to separate ferrous (magnetic iron-containing metals) from non-ferrous metals. Metal analysis equipment is occasionally used to identify and classify metal streams more thoroughly.

Shredding—Sorting is followed by processing. This usually entails shredding all of the metal to reduce its volume, making it easier to melt down. This saves a significant amount of energy. However, aluminum and steel are cut into sheets and blocks.

Melting—The scrap metal is ready to be melted down after shredding and processing. It is melted into liquid form in huge furnaces, each one dedicated to a different type of metal. Metal might take anything from a few minutes to several hours to achieve liquidity.

Decontamination—After the metal has become liquid, it is essentially cleaned. A procedure called as electrolysis is used to remove any leftover pollutants and impurities from the melted metal.

Solidifying—The metal is delivered to a conveyor belt to cure, or solidify, after it has been cleaned and purified. Then, depending on the type of metal and the planned purpose, they are placed into molds. In the recycling sector, bars are by far the most popular form.

Distributing Metal Bars—The molds are transported out and distributed as needed once the metal is ready for usage. They’re carted away to industries where they’ll be utilized as raw materials to make new things!

To learn more, visit their website:  https://aarecycles.com/.

In a comprehensive workshop held earlier this month, stakeholders from government, industry, and nonprofit sectors converged to share insights and strategies for enhancing the statewide Consumer Electronics Recycling Act (CERA) program. Hosted by the Illinois Recycling Foundation (IRF) in collaboration with the Illinois Recycling Association (IRA) and with support from the National Center for Electronics Recycling (which represents electronics manufacturers in the implementation of the law), the event brought together county representatives, environmental specialists, recycling experts, and legislative advocates to review current practices and discuss critical updates ahead of the legislative end date of December 31, 2026.

A Collaborative Effort for a Sustainable Future

The workshop opened with warm welcomes and introductions from IRF President Clair Ryan and Executive Director Nathan Mihelich, who underscored the importance of community engagement and cross-sector collaboration. Attendees were encouraged to share their contact information and experiences via the chat, setting an interactive tone for the day’s sessions. The webinar was recorded for future reference, ensuring that valuable insights would be accessible to all interested parties.

📅 Dates: Tuesday, October 14, 2025, and Wednesday, October 15, 2025

📍 Location: East Peoria, Illinois



Stay tuned for more details and opportunities to participate in this exciting event!

At the risk of getting overly political, I think it's safe to say that it has been a bumpy month for anyone working on any federal grant funded projects, myself included. Despite some added stress, I remain optimistic that awarded federally funded projects in Illinois, including Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) and Recycling Education and Outreach projects, will ultimately continue.

At least on a local level, it has been my experience that sustainable solid waste and materials management efforts enjoy strong bipartisan support. In some ways, waste is "the great equalizer," because we all make and have a very practical need to dispose of it, no matter where we come from or what our lifestyle or beliefs may be. Of course, we all contribute other types of pollution as well, but very little of it is as obviously visible as solid waste and recyclables, accumulating right there in our kitchens and bathrooms, requiring us to physically walk it out.

While we all make waste, all it takes is a bit of driving or mapping to realize that we are not all equally impacted by the infrastructure for managing waste, from landfills to transfer stations, MRFs, C&D operations, scrap yards and processing warehouses, all with their ubiquitous heavy traffic. Indeed, "NIMBY-ism" has long been a challenge in siting waste infrastructure. However, neighborhoods with more political and economic power have historically had more success in keeping the most impactful infrastructure further away. While environmental justice considerations may be prohibited at the federal level, at least for the time being, I hope that those of us working on waste management and sustainability at the local level will redouble efforts to work with everyone to find equitable solutions.

As the recycling industry advances into 2025, cutting-edge technologies and evolving regulations are transforming material recovery and sustainability efforts. Dr. Volker Rehrmann of TOMRA Recycling highlights key advancements in decarbonizing aluminum recycling, alongside emerging solutions for traditionally overlooked materials such as textiles and wood.



From AI-powered deep learning and real-time monitoring to regulatory developments like the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, the industry is increasingly focused on enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and compliance. These innovations are shaping a more circular economy, driving progress toward greater material recovery and reduced environmental impact.

Lee Zeldin has officially been confirmed as the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following a 56-42 Senate vote on January 29th. Zeldin, a former U.S. Representative (R-NY) from 2013 to 2023, will lead the agency as the Trump administration pushes for a shift in environmental policy.

Supporters of Zeldin praise his commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental protection. They believe his leadership will foster policies that encourage industry while maintaining conservation efforts. However, opponents argue that his close ties to the oil and gas industry could undermine efforts to combat climate change.

In a statement following his confirmation, Zeldin reaffirmed his commitment to environmental stewardship while also emphasizing economic prosperity. “We will take great strides to defend every American’s access to clean air, clean water, and clean land,” he said. “We will maintain and expand the gold standard of environmental stewardship and conservation that President Trump set forth in his first administration while also prioritizing economic prosperity.”



Zeldin’s confirmation marks a significant shift for the EPA, setting the stage for potential regulatory rollbacks and policy changes. As he steps into the role, all eyes will be on how his leadership shapes the nation’s environmental future.

Re-New-Able Technologies and Redivivus are partnering to launch Illinois’ first lithium-ion battery recycling facility. Re-New-Able, based in Hazel Crest, Illinois (Southern Cook Co.), will integrate Redivivus’ Redi-Shred technology to create a more sustainable battery recycling process.

“This is a major step for Illinois,” said Re-New-Able co-founder and CTO Ravi Gade. “Our goal is to improve battery recycling and make Illinois a leader in clean energy. Redivivus’ expertise ensures safe and efficient processing, and we’re excited to work together.”

The facility will handle batteries in any condition from local businesses, OEM factories, and auto-wrecking yards, among other customers. The companies also plan to deploy modular Redi-Shred units to reduce the distances that lithium ion batteries have to travel for recycling, thereby also reducing safety risks.

Future facilities, like the Re-New-Able/Redivivus venture, can help ensure that the economic benefits of recycling batteries recovered through the program that will be established to implement the Battery Stewardship Act, will be more fully captured here in Illinois.

The fire that caused a waste collection vehicle to explode in Arlington Heights, IL (Northern Cook County) last December may have been caused by a battery that was placed in a recycling bin. “We can’t prove it but there’s a very high suspicion that this fire was started because of the improper disposal of a lithium-ion battery in a recycling bin,” Arlington Heights Fire Chief Lance Harris told the village board during a special presentation on Feb. 18.

The temperature-triggered safety release valves on the compressed natural gas fuel tanks aboard the truck apparently failed, leading the highly pressurized tanks to explode, launching shrapnel in all directions. Three first responders sustained relatively minor injuries, emergency vehicles and nearby houses were damaged, and the truck, pictured below, was a total loss. However, Chief Harris noted in his presentation that it was miraculous that nobody was seriously injured or killed.

While collection vehicle and facility fires were certainly not unheard of before the proliferation of lithium ion batteries, they are becoming increasingly common and more dangerous due to the heat that a short-circuiting battery of this type produces. Several IRF members worked together on the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County-led effort to develop a statewide battery disposal safety campaign. 

Lakeshore Recycling Systems LLC, a key player in waste management, just secured a financial boost from the Chicago City Council to support its latest recycling facility at 4121 S. Packers Ave. in the New City community area.

The facility, which opened in March 2023 after a $1 million environmental cleanup, now provides over 700 full- and part-time jobs while reinforcing the city's sustainability efforts. To ease financial strain and encourage long-term investment, Cook County has approved a Class C property tax incentive, slashing the company’s tax bill by $3.4 million over the next 12 years.

City officials see the incentive as a strategic move—revitalizing a formerly contaminated industrial site while strengthening Chicago’s recycling infrastructure. However, the tax break comes with strings attached: the facility must remain an industrial hub, ensuring both job retention and environmental stewardship in an area once scarred by pollution.

With this deal, Lakeshore Recycling’s success is now intertwined with the city’s commitment to cleaner, more sustainable urban development—a high-stakes bet that officials hope will pay off for both the economy and the environment.

The approval of a $3.4 million tax incentive for Lakeshore Recycling Systems’ New City facility carries significant implications for Illinois, blending economic growth with environmental revitalization. The 700+ jobs created by the facility provide stable employment opportunities, strengthening the state’s workforce and attracting further investment to historically industrial areas. Additionally, the $1 million site cleanup aligns with Illinois’ sustainability efforts, transforming a once-contaminated site into a hub for recycling and reducing landfill waste. The Class C property tax reduction, while lowering short-term tax revenue, reflects the state’s commitment to balancing business incentives with long-term environmental and economic gains. By supporting industrial redevelopment and sustainability efforts, this initiative reinforces Illinois’ vision of a greener, more prosperous future.

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) and other organizations have long advocated for stronger bottle bills to increase aluminum can recycling for domestic manufacturing. Despite consuming over a quarter of the world’s aluminum cans, the U.S. has a significantly lower recycling rate than peer nations.

A new CRI report warns that without improvements, the global aluminum industry cannot meet its sustainability goals. This echoes concerns from a recent Aluminum Association and Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) report, which linked declining UBC recycling rates down to 43% in 2023, to infrastructure shortcomings. While both reports recognize the potential of bottle bills and extended producer responsibility laws, CRI calls bottle bills the “gold standard” for improving aluminum can recycling.

Unfortunately, bottle deposit bills have had very little political success in Illinois. They have been introduced for consideration by the Illinois Assembly on a fairly routine basis since the early 70's. The bills are generally opposed by beverage distributors, which feel they are being unfairly singled out among packaging users, retail operations, which object to requirements that they manage deposits and accept returns, and by waste companies that process curbside recyclables, which do not want to lose the value of beverage cans and bottles from single stream programs. HB1089 has been introduced to the Assembly this session to establish the Illinois Container Fee and Deposit Act.

The U.S. would need $36 billion to $43 billion to upgrade curbside collection, drop-off programs, and processing infrastructure to meet the national recycling goal by 2030. This investment could increase recovered packaging and organic material by 91%, raising the national recycling rate from 32% to 61%, well above the EPA’s 50% goal.

Curbside collection requires the largest investment, between $19.9 billion and $21.5 billion, followed by glass separation ($2.9 billion), drop-off programs ($1.9 billion to $3.4 billion), and deposit return systems ($100 million). Organic waste improvements, estimated at $14.7 billion to $15.5 billion, would focus on centralized composting, requiring up to $9.4 billion.

Thank You to our 2025 Benefactors!

Consider adding your logo here next to Helping Hands, Fortune Metals and Strategic Materials Inc. Become a 2025 BENEFACTOR for $2000.

If you have already joined and would like to upgrade to this status, send an email to executivedirector@illinoisrecycles.org

The Ink-Stained Path to Sustainability

In the realm of environmental initiatives, the Illinois Recycling Foundation (IRF) has found an unlikely hero: the printer cartridge. Our updated total income from participation in the Planet Green Recycle program this year is $651.00. Want to participate? Just follow the steps bellow and use Program ID #32599

"We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world." - Howard Zinn

Illinois Recycling Foundation / Illinois Recycling Association,

PO Box 411, Geneva IL 60134

708-847-0827

info@illinoisrecycles.org