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.

McHenry County College (MCC) serves the seventh most rapidly growing county in Illinois, providing credit and noncredit educational and training opportunities and special events for nearly 60,000 participants annually. Named among Aspen Institute's top 150 community colleges in the nation, McHenry County College is the county's center for higher education and lifelong learning. Offering six associate degree programs, applied science degrees designed for career training, and certificate programs, MCC was also ranked fourth in the state for student success rates and affordability by CNN Money and College Measures.

The McHenry County College Sustainability Center embraces the definition of sustainability, as endorsed by The World Commission on Environment and Development: “Meeting the Needs of the Present Generation Without Compromising the Ability of Future Generations to Meet Their Needs.”  MCC is in a unique position to lead the community as it strives to educate sustainably responsible citizens and reduce its carbon footprint. As an institution of higher education and a comprehensive community college, MCC strives to share its resources with the community and model sustainability. The College has a long history of providing community environmental education, and the goal is to continue on this path. Because of this, sustainability has been integrated into daily practices through the development of the Center.

The MCC Sustainability Center is focused on three interconnected areas, which create a holistic approach to sustainability.  Their Green Campus includes the physical campus and campus operations; their Green Education includes curriculum developed for a green economy and training for employees and students about sustainable practices; and their Green Community, demonstrates how MCC shares resources with the community that improve the quality of life.

McHenry County College was the 28th community college established in Illinois with the passage of a referendum on April 1, 1967. The present 68-acre site was acquired in 1971 when residents voted to accept the purchase.  Building plans were finalized and groundbreaking ceremonies were held on March 10, 1974.  A referendum passed on November 8, 1988 allowed McHenry County College to continue to grow. Construction completed in 1991, which now serves approximately 16,500 students annually, resulted in 96,000 square feet for the conference center, offices, dining facilities, children’s learning center and bookstore. 

For more information, go to https://www.mchenry.edu.

We invite you to join us for an insightful webinar on park sustainability! Learn how public park systems are leading the way in waste reduction, resource management, and promoting biodiversity. This webinar will feature case studies, expert insights, and an interactive Q&A.

Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024

Time: 12:00 PM (CST)

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

As we approach election season, the Illinois Recycling Association is inviting political candidates to complete a questionnaire outlining their positions on recycling and environmental issues more broadly. This initiative ensures that sustainability remains a top priority in the political landscape.

Interested in the process?

On October 1, 2024, we hosted a successful Lunch & Learn on campus sustainability in collaboration with the University of Illinois Chicago and Loyola University Chicago. The webinar showcased their efforts in recycling and sustainability initiatives on campus.

Missed the event? You can watch the recording here.

Is our newsletter looking spiffy this month or what? Kudos to IRF's volunteer Communications Committee (headed by Barb Day) and to our Executive Director, Nathan for the redesign work!

We've had a busy few weeks between our Campus Sustainability lunch & learn and our tour of Fortune Metals' Midwest Campus in Sandwich, both highlighted elsewhere in this edition. We're continually looking for ways to add value to your experience as an IRF member, dear reader. If you have ideas or requests, please let me know (email Clair).

I'll close by encouraging you to think of ways to "Green your Halloween," whether it's upcycling waste items to make decorations or costumes, buying candy in recyclable packaging (boxes of Nerds!), composting your jack-o-lanterns and other organic decor items, or all of the above! Feel free to share your inspiring photos with IRF!

The Illinois Recycling Foundation (IRF) hosted an exclusive tour of Fortune Metals, a leader in the telecommunications recycling industry. The tour, organized by Events Committee Chair Barb Day, offered members a behind-the-scenes look at the sophisticated processes Fortune Metals employs to recycle high-value materials like copper, lead, and telecommunications equipment.

McDonald’s has announced a reduction in plastic waste generated by their McFlurry products. Instead of using a paperboard cup with plastic cap, they are switching by the end of 2025 to all paperboard. This is part of their efforts to make their business locations and products more sustainable. They have a goal of sourcing 100% of customer packaging from renewable, recycled or certified materials. As of the end of 2023, they reported they had reached over 86% of this goal. While an ice cream cone is an even more sustainable product, featuring a slip of paper around the edible cone, for those that love the flavors, this four-flap, paper based cup takes nearly 20 million plastic caps out of existence!

Kay Masterson has always wanted to make her Boston-area restaurant more sustainable, partnering with an organic farm to get some vegetables close by and offering reusable containers for customers' takeout. When Massachusetts was weighing whether to block restaurants from dumping food waste into landfills, her restaurant started composting without waiting on a law.

Right away, there were challenges: $3,000 a year for bins and pickup. Busy dishwashers could contaminate an entire bag of compostable materials by missing a single butter packet. And customers in the habit of just chucking their leftovers needed signage to get uneaten food into the right place.

LRS’ sustainability report offers baseline greenhouse gas emissions data and a general plan for reducing emissions from landfills and fleet vehicles while maintaining recycling rates. Macquarie-backed LRS experienced major growth in 2023 while also making changes to its leadership. The company’s first sustainability report highlights what it sees as its main environmental responsibilities as a growing business. LRS is the largest private hauler in Illinois and has over 70 facilities throughout the Midwest that employ about 2,300 people, according to the report.

Grant applications are due soon for numerous waste, recycling and organics programs funded by the U.S. EPA and USDA. Deadlines are nearing for numerous grants offering millions of dollars in funding for waste and recycling-related programs and projects.

Thank You to our 2024 Benefactors!

Consider adding your logo here next to Helping Hands and Alta Equipment Company. Become a 2024 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 $527.25. Want to participate? Just follow the steps bellow and use Program ID #32599

Job Posting

RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SPECALIST

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, a nonprofit with 275 municipal members, is seeking a Recycling Education & Outreach Specialist to support a 3-year US EPA-funded campaign aimed at increasing recycling participation and reducing contamination in the Chicago metro area. This role involves collaborating with local governments, community partners, and residents, focusing on environmental justice communities across DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and parts of Cook counties.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with marketing consultants and coalition partners to develop and launch a regional recycling education campaign.
• Create and distribute outreach materials, engage community leaders, and support local events promoting proper recycling practices.
• Tailor messaging for low-income and underserved communities, ensuring cultural and linguistic sensitivity.
• Lead presentations, workshops, and activities to educate residents and stakeholders on recycling programs.
• Build and maintain relationships with municipal governments, environmental groups, and community organizations to support the campaign’s goals.
• Track and report outreach efforts to ensure progress toward grant targets.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2+ years of experience in recycling, sustainability, environmental education, or similar fields.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and experience delivering presentations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Zoom, and CRM systems.
• Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle for local travel (up to 50% of the time).
• Knowledge of Chicago suburbs and Spanish fluency are a plus.

Salary & Benefits:

• Full-time position, salary range $50,000–$62,000, based on experience.
• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 401k with company contribution, PTO, and 12 paid holidays.

Employment & Working Conditions: This hybrid position requires local travel across the Chicago metro area for in-person meetings and events. The role is full-time through May 2027, with potential for extension based on grant funding.

How to Apply: Submit your application, resume, cover letter, and optional writing samples by November 20, 2024, at https://metropolitanmayorscaucus.submittable.com/.

Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to be dispersed because we’ve been ignorant of their value.

– R. Buckminster Fuller

Illinois Recycling Foundation / Illinois Recycling Association,

PO Box 411, Geneva IL 60134

708 358 0050

info@illinoisrecycles.org