If your organization is not sure of what items can be recycled, where to send such items, or need to streamline current operations, contact JT Environmental. info@jtenv.com / 888.583.6826

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 info@illinoisrecycles.org.

We do our best to keep membership fees affordable. Please note that fees paid to IRF are tax deductible. The ILLINOIS RECYCLING FOUNDATION, created from IRA in 2020, is a 501c3. IRA remains a 501c6 with a focus on legislative issues, following new bills and assisting on initiatives when needed. Together, we make change possible. Click to JOIN/RENEW NOW!

Shout out to GDB International, Inc. for starting 2022 stronger than ever with a new plant in Mount Vernon IL. This facility will produce more premium, eco-friendly paint, advance environmental innovation, and provide local jobs. For more on GDB, visit https://buff.ly/3oDDsr7.

ISTC's Technical Assistance Program has funding to provide sustainability assessments to IL food and beverage manufacturers, processors, their suppliers, and supporting industries. These assessments are provided at no cost to the facilities. Find information here.

Click for full press release and link to White Paper.

At the State level, know that this is a very short legislative season and things are moving quickly. Top issues include Environmental Justice (HB 4093) legislation that could impact a variety of solid waste and recycling facilities. Negotiations between many interested parties is occurring to provide more clarity and less impact to desirable operations. Carpet EPR legislation (HB 4356) may have the momentum to pass this session. Paint legislation is momentarily stalled with negotiations on several issues on-going. Packaging legislation created by Rep. Avelar is being worked on but not expected to pass this session. A ban on food service polystyrene is in committee (HB 3067). The EPR bill on Pharmaceuticals (HB1780) to fund medication take-back is poised to pass. A Right-to-Repair effort (HB 3061) is making the rounds. C&D rulemaking hasn't started but is expected to be undertaken in coming months.

A Note from the President, Marta Keane

What better day to share our love of waste reduction, reuse and recycling than Valentine's Day! There was an excellent turnout for the CERA webinar series with the IEPA and several of our electronic recycling members. This was followed up with an invite only glass recycling presentation as we continue to work to address the issues faced by this foundational recyclable item. Next up is a webinar on Plastics featuring speakers with serious concerns about hard-to-recycle plastics and the waste issues degrading, misplaced plastic causes to our environment. The Contamination Task Force and Recycling Professionals groups have both identified batteries as a serious problem for a variety of recyclers. Tune into our webinar in March as we explore several opportunities to educate, collect and recycle batteries of all kinds. Finally, if you haven't renewed or joined yet, please do so to support programs.

In an effort to do more on social media and alter make our website more reflective of our members, we are asking IRF Members to send generic photos of their recycling 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.

Nearly every business member and many government and institutional members have job openings. They are actually too numerous to list, so please visit our Membership Directory and find member's websites to see the jobs currently awaiting interested applicants.

THANK YOU TO THESE SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE

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

The State of Paper Cup Recycling.

Chicagoland government members and non-members met via IRF Zoom with the Glass Recycling Foundation regarding last year's pilot Restaurant and Tavern Glass Recycling program. The Glass Recycling Foundation is committed to a hub and spoke approach to serving interested glass generators and searching for a dedicated acre in the Will-South Cook area, the DuPage-Kane area and the Lake-North Cook area. They offer service at a low price with funding from several sources that recognize that glass recycling isn't working through many existing service providers. If you are interested, please contact IRF.

A webinar on composting is being offered by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) and NEWMOA, on Feb 24. They will discuss end market applications with examples from sites that compost food with other organics.

Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/regi.../8245067692714994704

ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL: Tracking the Future of US Recycling Policy in Congress

NATIONAL BOTTLE BILL LIKELY TO LAND IN CONGRESS SOON. Bottle bills are not only a state issue. There is interest at the federal level. Read About It Here

EPR AND BOTTLE BILLS HITTING MANY STATES. Wastedive series touches on the increasing momentum of EPR legislation across the Unites States. Read More Here.

MACK TRUCK OFFERS EV SUPPORT: Mack is offering a package of support to make it easier for all those with collection fleets a way to more easily add electric powered vehicles to their operation. Click to read more.

EV BATTERIES BEING RECYCLED WITH LESS TOXICS. Global Battery Solutions has a process to recover the cobalt, nickle aluminum, and lithium with Volvo, Toyota, and General Motors among their clients. Read More Here.

“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place."