On July 13, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launched one of the first regional climate plans in the United States. This plan is the result of nearly two years of work involving 175 organizations, 270 stakeholders and drawn from more than 50 local and international sustainability and climate plans. This plan calls all municipal leaders to action. It was developed with support from the European Union and is aligned with the Global Covenant of Mayors and the Greenest Region Compact. The plan distills climate science, a regional greenhouse inventory, a regional climate risk and vulnerability assessment into sensible and critical strategies to guide effective municipal action to both mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to impacts of our changing climate. Municipalities have the unique ability to lead in making impactful changes in their own operations; to encourage others to take effective climate action; and to enact policies that will reduce greenhouse emissions and build resilient communities. Click to read through the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region.

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.

See 2021 Membership Drive section below to become a member for reduced event fees throughout the year

Let Your Voice Be Heard. If you or someone you know would like to serve on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Recycling Foundation, please click here to submit a Nomination Form. This is a chance to become involved and be part of the decision making of this foundation that is the Collective Voice of Recycling for the State of Illinois. The entire Board of Directors, including new members, will be introduced at the 2021 Annual Conference.

Recognize a Deserving Recycling Industry Person or Organization. If you know of someone who deserves special recognition for their work in the recycling industry, click here to submit an Awards Nomination Form. Winner(s) will be announced at the 2021 Annual Conference.

A Note from the President, .

As federal policymakers push to move trillions of dollars into the national economy through major infrastructure development projects, how can recycling stakeholders ensure materials recovery is folded into wider plans? Next month's online Resource Recycling Conference will feature a session diving into that question. The discussion will build on that NRC's "Recycling Is Infrastructure Too" campaign and recently released American Recycling Infrastructure Plan.

The session is set for Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. Eastern. It's just one part of an info-packed agenda that is geared toward helping municipal recycling stakeholders boost local programs.

Get all the details and register today at rrconference.com.

This program kicked off June 11. See the upcoming locations using a link on our website. Let your friends and social media contacts know they can support restaurant glass recycling at the following bars throughout the Chicagoland area. Some July info below. When more dates are added they will be posted here.

The summer break means that no bills are making their way through committee but a few items are still in negotiation, such as the energy bill which promises to continue funding clean energy sources while reducing or eliminating subsidies to coal on the state level. The IRA's C&D bill passed and is awaiting the governor's signature. For more details, consider attending the tour on July 29 and meeting representatives while also viewing a C&D facility.

The Statewide Materials Management Advisory Committee completed the task assigned in 2019 through HB 3068, to create a list of recommendations that may become the blueprint for advancing waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and addressing HHW. We held a session with some of the members of the committee earlier this year. The report presented to the General Assembly earlier this month is available here.

Only the names of 2021 members of the Illinois Recycling Foundation appear in the Member Directory on the IRF website. Please join now to add your name.

The Illinois Recycling Foundation is devoted to addressing concerns of a diverse an varied membership with targeted meetings on specific topics. Please consider joining one of these committees today to be part of discussion. Email us at info@illinoisrecycles.org with your committee interest.

We also welcome members to join our Communications Committee, Conference Committee, Events Committee and Grants Committee. Full committee descriptions are available here.

A collection of trade groups, corporations and nonprofits is launching a new coalition focused on pushing for federal investments in recycling infrastructure, including incentivizing private-public partnerships in a bid to improve the reach and efficacy of U.S. recycling programs. The group, dubbed Recycling Infrastructure Now, includes trade associations like the Aluminum Association, American Beverage Association, Food Marketing Institute, Foodservice Packaging Institute, Glass Packaging Institute, International Bottled Water Association, National Restaurant Association and Retail Industry Leaders Association, as well as brands like McDonald’s and Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, recycling-focused investment firm Closed Loop Partners and the nonprofit Recycling Partnership.

The Illinois Recycling Foundation website frequently contains job postings submitted by IRF members. Take a look! https://illinoisrecycles.org/jobs/

If you are a member and have jobs available, please send the postings to info@illinoisrecycles.org. The posting(s) will appear on our website and in our social media.

Right to Repair Bill in Congress Click for details.

Federal Judge Terminates Southside Recycling Lawsuit Click Here

National Composting Act introduced in the House and Senate Click for details

Hazardous Waste, Recycling Made Easier in Lockport IL Click Here for Article

E-Processor to be Featured on TV Show Click for Article

Chicago Releases Formal Waste Strategy Click Here

USEPA Announces Grant Opportunity for Food Waste Management Projects Click Here

Rock Island County Discontinues Recycling Drop Off Program Click Here