NOVEMBER 2019 Newsletter

MATERIAL MATTERS

NOVEMBER 2019 NEWSLETTER

SHINING A MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON

St Louis Composting was founded in 1992 by eco-enthusiast Patrick Geraty and has blossomed into the region’s largest compost producer. St Louis Composting’s mission is to help make the world a little greener and reduce landfill waste by producing compost of the highest quality. They have grown from one to nine composting facilities (including a 52-acre site located just west of Belleville IL) where they processed 700,000 cubic yards of “green materials” (including food scraps, grass, animal bedding, leaves, brush and cardboard) in 2018 – more than one-third of all yard waste generated in St Louis County. In addition to composting yard trimmings gathered by the area’s major waste haulers, St Louis Composting receives and composts material collected from landscapers and homeowners around the region. Composting is important to the economy and the environment. Compost contains essential nutrients and moisture that help plants grow by:

· improving the structure, drainage and water-holding capacity of soil

· encouraging deep-rooting

· helping to suppress plant disease

· reducing erosion

St. Louis Composting has been a member of US Composting Council (USCC) since 2000; a participant in USSC’s Seal of Testing Assurance Program(STA); the region’s largest compost producer and attained an OMRI Listed Organic Certification since 2015. If you wish to learn more about St Louis Composting, please contact Macy Oswald at [email protected] or click here.

The Illinois Recycling Association is proud to have St Louis Composting as a member.

Members of the Illinois Recycling Association enjoy the benefit of spotlighting their Business, Government, Educational Institution or Non-Profit entity in a future Newsletter. If you would like to be featured, please send an email to [email protected].

Tour an IRA Member's Facility and Network Over Lunch!

Please join us on November 19th on a tour of the recent winner of the IRA's Recycler of the Year Award.

Click Here For More Details And To Register

2020 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Here is a quick reminder that your Membership expires December 31. Be sure to put your renewal on the holiday list so you don't miss anything, including a discounted tour of an Electronics Recycling Facility set for January ! The new board has some exciting efforts underway for 2020, including promoting members' efforts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day!

Click Here to Review Benefits of Membership and to JOIN

TOMORROW IS AMERICA RECYCLES DAY .

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO PARTICIPATE.

Click Here To Take Action

SOLAR PANEL RECYCLING

As highlighted at the IRA Annual Meeting, Illinois has a PV EOL Stakeholder Group discussing the current and eventual need to recycle solar panels. Photovoltaic modules are being added to homes, businesses and farms across Illinois. Some come in damaged, others are damaged by storms or fires. At this time, installers are asked to take the damaged panels and "dispose" of them. Some put them in storage, others landfill them and others send them to specialty recyclers. As an industry that is based on providing clean energy, the goal is to recover and recycle the materials. The issue is transportation and cost along with markets for the different technologies embedded in the module. The Stakeholder Group is focused on addressing these issues. Stay tuned for more to develop on this unique waste stream.

RECYCLING REJECTS: PLASTIC BAGS

Plastic bags should not go into the Recycling Bin, but the switch to automation and carts prevents cost effective ways of continuing that rejection. Over the past two years education has increased dramatically to address the well-intentioned residential and business customer that wants to recycle their plastic film; directing them to local retailers that accept it. Still, confusion remains. Custodial staff empty unlined containers into bags, people using drop-offs bring their items in bags and residents still remain confused, placing bags of bags into carts. IRA wants to know what you are doing that works to reduce plastic bag contamination. Tell us your stories, show us your graphics. We will do our best to highlight you and give you credit for your success!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Veto Session officially began on November 1, 2019. Several bills may get additional consideration that were seen during the Spring Session.

Federal Bill we are watching: Udall / Lowanthal Legislation on Global Plastic Waste Crisis. Click Here for Details

Illinois Bills we are watching:

HB2296 Prohibits placing lead-acid batteries with other recyclables to be picked up by a hauler. Prohibits placing rechargeable batteries with other recyclables to be picked up by a hauler, unless expressly authorized by the recycling program.
HB2491 Amends Environmental Protection Act to allow for permitting a plastics pyrolysis pilot project in either Will or Grundy County.
HB2764 Amends Environmental Protection Act to allow for use of special waste manifest forms available from third party vendors.
HB3068 Creates a Statewide Materials Management Advisory Committee to investigate and provide recommendations for expanding waste reduction, recycling, reuse and composting in Illinois; provide recommendations for the form and content of county waste management plans; and prepare and submit a report on their work to the General Assembly by July 1, 2021.
SB1847 Amends Environmental Protection Act to require IEPA to provide public notice via its website of when it grants permits to new facilities.
SB2027 Amends Environmental Protection Act to require IEPA to identify and prioritize for inspection, using stated criteria, those unregulated or underregulated landfills that overlie the Mahomet Aquifer. Requires IEPA to design and implement a pilot project at the Pekin Metro Landfill and another site present over the Mahomet Aquifer. Provides that the Pilot Project shall require Agency to evaluate the sites for threats to groundwater, etc. using remote sensing technologies and other more traditional methods.

ILEPA Recycling Guidelines

Last year at this time the State of Illinois updated their website and released a poster providing guidelines for recycling across the State. This was done in consultation with a variety of MRF operators, haulers and government representatives. Many communities are using this poster and website to address the contamination issue. Let us know what you are doing to address contamination.

https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/waste-management/Pages/recycling.aspx

SOCIAL MEDIA UPTICK

IRA is gong LIVE on Social Media this month. Become a fan of Illinois Recycling Association on Facebook and see our posts about members, hot topics and occasional LIVE coverage of events! Our first effort is planned for November 19 as we tour Area Recycling in Pekin! We are also on LinkedIn! Please join us and together we will make recycling stronger in Illinois.

National Zero Waste Conference is now open for registration! The conference will take place March 18-19, 2020 in conjunction with the California Zero Waste Week at the UC Berkeley. The program features an in-depth dive into Zero Waste communities and operations along with the big picture: Circular Economy, Climate Change, and Living the Dream of Zero Waste are just a few of the topics that will feature experts in the field who are walking the talk.

Here's what you need to know:

There are 40 confirmed speakers already signed on and counting
NRC-ROC affiliates and regular members will receive a registration discount
Early bird pricing ends December 18th so go ahead and register to take advantage
You can register, view the agenda, speakers and live updates on the event webpage,

National Zero Waste Conference

Sponsorship opportunities are available and outlined on the website for more info.