Janaury/February 2025 Newsletter | |
The Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association (ILCSWMA) was established in 1993 as a not-for-profit organization for local level solid waste management officials and other interested parties. The Association is dedicated to providing a forum for networking, training and information exchange. | |
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Thanks for taking the time to open the first ILCSWMA Newsletter of 2025. I am happy to share with you the debut of our new and improved website, and I hope you find it a helpful resource. We have added some new features like a member’s events calendar, photo gallery, member directory, and resource page. We have also streamlined the member registration process. Please take this time to visit the website at ilcswma.org and renew your membership today.
This newsletter is one of the many benefits that ILCSWMA offers its members. We like to use it to elevate awareness of the good work our members are doing in their communities. In this issue, we spotlight two 2024 conference sponsors and the Tazwell County Environmental Health Department's efforts to reduce single-use plastics and support a local pet rescue organization. Please keep sending us stories about the good work that you or your organization is doing.
Illinois is a leader in developing and implementing good composting infrastructure and programs. I believe that the Good Neighbor Compost Zoning Toolkit featured in this issue will be helpful in our work in supporting the expansion of community compost programs. The USCC Toolkit provides relevant information for advocates and decision-makers who wish to site a compost facility under appropriate local and state regulations.
Thanks for reading. Again, please visit the new ILCSWMA website, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and be social with us. Stay tuned for our March newsletter, legislative updates, upcoming regional meetings, Joint Conference announcements, and more.
Pete Adrian
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ILCSWMA's Website Has Been Redesigned | |
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The BOD is proud to announce that the association's new website is ready for its members! The founder of McIvor Marketing and her team worked with the association's website committee to update the layout and content of this project that began just before the October 2024 conference. There are several new features that will make obtaining information easier.
Features include:
- Streamlined registration process for membership renewals and new members, conferences and seminars - using Stripe instead of PayPal
- Searchable event calendar
- Easy-to-use online membership directory
- Resource page with newsletters and important documents
- FAQs
- Photo gallery to keep all of our memories for years to come
- Members identified by logo on the footer of each page
- Sponsor logos will be featured on the Conference Page this fall
- And more!
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It's Membership Renewal Time! | |
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Wow, how quickly a year flies! An Association membership runs from January to December, which means it's time to renew or become a member of ILCSWMA. Membership rates remain the same as last year because the BOD works for organizations just like yours and knows about budget constraints. Please renew or become a member by March 15, 2025.
When you fill out the form, you will be asked to add others in your county/organization/business that wish to be included in the one-fee membership. Also, your logo is needed in a transparent, colored, png format, among a few other boxes to fill in about your organization..
Many thanks for your support and participation!
CATEGORIES:
Full Membership - $130
This fee includes membership of your entire organization, not just one employee. Full members are eligible to vote on ILCSWMA organizational matters. To be eligible for Full membership, an organization must be a unit of local government, either a county, municipality, or township.
Affiliate Membership - $100
This fee includes membership of your entire organization. Affiliate members include organizations, which are interested in Illinois solid waste management, but are not eligible for Full membership. Affiliate members of ILCSWMA include State agencies, consulting & engineering firms, colleges & universities, Keep Illinois Beautiful affiliates, community groups and businesses.
Retiree Membership - $25
Have you retired from a member organization but want to stay involved and keep informed about solid waste issues in the state? There is a special rate of $25 for retirees. With this Membership, you will be able to attend conferences at the affiliate rate, in addition to receiving quarterly newsletters and other membership benefits.
Last year's Premier, Red, and White conference sponsors received a complimentary 2025 membership:
- Recycle Coach
- ARXG
- Heritage Environmental Services
- LRS
- PaintCare
- WasteNot Compost
- Call2Recycle
- ERRO
- Groot
- Midwest Fiber
- Reynolds Products
- Rumpke Waste & Recycling
As a note, the US EPA and IL EPA staff are considered Supportive Partners for being a necessary, on-going resource and receive a complimentary membership. Additionally, there are two members considered Honorary Members due to their longterm service to the Association and receive a compleminentary membership, Chad Braatz and Bart Hagston.
Click on the button to fill out a form and submit your payment via credit card or get details for mailing a check. If you have any questions about membership, please email Mary S. Allen at info@ilcswma.org.
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Celebrating Recycling Progress in Illinois
with Recycle Coach
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From Jessica Fantauzzo
We’re thrilled to share an exciting update about our state-wide partnership with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
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Since the launch of this initiative last year, we've connected with municipalities large and small, empowering residents to recycle smarter and reduce contamination. The City of Chicago has officially joined the Recycle Coach network, alongside communities across DuPage, Kane, and Tazewell Counties. This marks a significant milestone in our mission to ensure all Illinois residents have access to essential waste and recycling resources.
Through this partnership, communities now have the tools to educate residents on proper waste disposal practices, reduce recycling contamination and costs, and promote better habits at curbside and beyond.
We’re incredibly proud of what’s been accomplished so far and remain more committed than ever to advancing waste and recycling education statewide.
Learn more about this partnership and how your community can benefit from Recycle Coach. Local governments can request an onboarding meeting by emailing succcessgroup@recyclecoach.com.
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Empowering Illinois Communities
ARXG’s Comprehensive Sharps Disposal Solutions
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From Samantha McMahon
As Illinois continues to prioritize public health and environmental sustainability, ARXG® is proud to partner with communities, organizations, and individuals to deliver innovative sharps disposal solutions that set the standard for quality, compliance, and convenience.
Leading the Way in Sharps Disposal 💉
Our organization believes proper sharps disposal is a shared responsibility—and we want to make it accessible for everyone. Our solutions are designed to address the unique needs of Illinois communities, ensuring safe and environmentally friendly disposal options that support residents and organizations alike.
ARXG® provides individuals and organizations with the tools to manage sharps disposal effectively. Together, we’re fostering safer, healthier communities in every corner of the country.
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Innovative Tools for Communities 🛠️
ARXG’s solutions go beyond collection and disposal—we offer tools that make sharps management efficient, transparent, and fully compliant with state and federal regulations, ensuring safety and environmental responsibility every step of the way:
• Customizable Self-Service Kiosks: Stainless steel receptacles with integrable kiosk management technology, perfect for public spaces and community focal points.
• Proprietary Online Portal: A user-friendly system for tracking and managing waste, ensuring compliance and efficiency from creation to destruction.
Why It Matters for Illinois ♿♻️
Recent trends in Illinois highlight the growing importance of sharps disposal programs:
• Community Access: Expanding access to disposal options through disposal hubs, local waste management events, and at-home solutions.
• State Support: Increased funding for programs that are critical in improving public health and creating lasting impact through positive environmental outcomes.
• Environmental Responsibility: A shared commitment to reducing the risks associated with improper sharps disposal.
ARXG® is proud to be at the forefront of these efforts, helping communities lead by example. By offering cost-efficient solutions tailored to their unique needs, we empower individuals to take action—ensuring proper sharps disposal is accessible and achievable for all.
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Building a Safer, Healthier Future ⭐
From setting up kiosks in local communities to managing municipal disposal efforts and providing mail-back solutions for their residents, ARXG® is committed to helping Illinois achieve its waste management goals.
Through various partnerships and a proven track record, we've safely destroyed over 3.6 million pounds of medical and pharmaceutical waste, helping generate over 1.2 million kWh of energy—further demonstrating the long-term benefits of proper disposal for both communities and the environment. Together, we can create safer environments, protect public health, and further establish Illinois as a national leader in sharps disposal.
We’re honored to support ILCSWMA members and look forward to continuing our partnership in 2025 and beyond. Let’s work together to make proper sharps disposal a reality for every Illinois resident.
For more information about our services and capabilities, visit our website or contact us directly. Thank you for your time and we look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
ARXG® Leadership Team
https://www.americanrxgroup.com/
sales@amrxgroup.com
(855) 269-1750
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Tazwell County's Project Pays Off for Pets | |
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Amanda Hunt, Tazwell County's Environmental Health Educator, coordinated a community project that was a huge success. After sending a poll to Tazewell County Health Department staff to gauge interest in switching from plastic bottles to aluminum cans for soda, the results showed that staff were on board. Amanda then set up collection stations and posted the idea on Facebook to encourage others to recycle their cans through TAPS. The response on social media was amazing, with nearly 500 likes/loves and 125 shares! The comments were so positive and stated interest in collecting aluminum cans for TAPS. This interest mounted additional interest in participating in the project from the community, including businesses. Stay tuned for some big numbers to be disclosed—all from a creative idea and a small change!
Submitted by Melissa Goetze, Director of Environmental Health, Tazwell County and ILCSWMA BOD
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Illinois Battery Awareness Campaign
Graphics to Share on Social Media Platforms and in Newsletters
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NEVER put batteries OF ANY KIND in your recycling bin or cart! Batteries can NOT be recycled in your home recycling bin. They may only be recycled through special collection programs or drop-offs. Contact your local municipality or agency to learn more. Staples and Batteries Plus stores are also a resource for battery drop off!
Click HERE for more information and other campaign graphics for social media platforms and newsletters.
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New: Good Neighbor Compost Zoning Toolkit | |
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The U.S. Composting Council Guide Helps Advocates, Composters, Policymakers to Prepare for the Long Haul
Could this be you?
You’re an advocate for local solutions that recycle food scraps and create healthy soil-- composting. You’re a composter entrepreneur that has a business idea that intersects with climate change and green jobs-composting. Or, you’re a newly elected county council member and your constituents asked you to get more composting in your region. But your county/city has no zoning that allows any type of composting except backyard composting. How do you even begin to bring Composting Land Use category to your Zoning Code?
The US Composting Council has designed a path to help you make this change in your community. The keys include:
- Assessing your community's readiness for a compost facility, and what size and zone may be the best place to start
- Finding allies and partners to help advocate
- Working with the Planning and Zoning Office using the USCC's Model Zoning Template
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International 2025 Compost Awareness Week
Sustainable Communities Begin with Compost!
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The Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition invites counties and municipalities to get involved during the International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), May 4-10, 2025, by hosting an event, being part of the planning committee, or participating in an activity or virtual events.
IFSCC shares fun ideas on how to:
- Send a press release about ICAW 2025
- Educate residents on the benefits of compost
- Promote compost services in your community
- Host a compost bin sale to help increase diversion
- Plan events to distribute finished compost
Illinois libraries and park districts are also invited to join IFSCC during ICAW
IFSCC shares fun ideas on how to:
- Highlight educational, interactive composting books
- Host compost-focused events for all ages
- Engage communities in composting
- Develop compost activities as climate action
Be sure to visit the ICAW website at https://illinoiscomposts.org/icaw-2025/# for more details and lots of resources!
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Your ILCSWMA Board Members | |
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Here are the Board Members for 2024:
- Pete Adrian, President
- Kerri Gale, Vice President
- Lisa Wooddy, Secretary
- Becky Tracy. Treasurer
- Paul Cooney, Northern Region Rep
- Melissa Goetze, Central Region Rep
- Aaron Kelley, Southern Region Rep
- Jana Messmore, At Large Rep
- Katie Vogler, At Large Rep
- Mary S. Allen, Administrative Coordinator
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STAY CONNECTED
Please send in information to share with the membership about a new program, data from a collection event, or anything pertaining to successful waste prevention initiatives or enforcement. If you are a full member and have others in your department that would like to receive this newsletter, please send an email request to ILCSWMA's administrative coordinator, Mary S. Allen, at info@ilcswma.org.
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