Libertyville Aims to Boost Its Recycling Rate to 60%

Village trustees recently accepted a challenge by the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County to increase its recycling rate to 60 percent by 2020.

“If we don’t get people, not just in Libertyville, to adjust their behavior in terms of how much refuse (they recycle), there’s going to be a major issue,” said Trustee Donna Johnson during the Jan. 24 Village Board meeting.

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County report indicates Lake County has about 10 to 12 years of in-county landfill capacity remaining and must act to extend the life of the landfill capacity and to reduce the amount of waste disposals.

In 2010, Libertyville recycled 39 percent of its waste. The report says the village could increase the recycling rate if it implemented programs such as recycling food scraps, expanded backyard-composting programs, or provided convenient ways to recycle electronics wastes.

“At 39 percent we are one of the highest communities recycling,” said Trustee Jay Justice. “Their goals are lofty but we have eight years to complete them so I think we are on the right track.”

Local residential waste was 2.1 pounds per capita per day in 2010. The report outlines a goal to reduce that to 1.6 pounds per capita per day by 2015 and 1.35 pounds per capita per day by 2020.

On average, the individual disposal rate in Lake County was 4.8 pounds per capita per day in 2010.

Commercial waste disposal was 2.92 pounds per capita per day in 2010. The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County report hopes to reduce it to 2.52 pounds per capita per day by 2015 and 2.13 pounds per capita per day by 2020.

The 27-member Solid Waste Agency of Lake County task force was formed in 2009 and charged with developing a plan to increase recycling rates in Lake County.