What This Project Will Deliver

Mandated by Public Act 103-0383 and supported by the U.S. EPA's SWIFR grant program, the Illinois Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment aims to:

  • Map existing recycling infrastructure and service gaps across municipal, township, county, and regional programs
  • Quantify baseline performance metrics—materials accepted, tons collected, capture rates, contamination levels, and economic factors
  • Deliver a comprehensive dataset and public report by mid-2025 to inform policy, funding priorities, and future recycling investments
  • Set the stage for statewide improvements in residential recycling access, program efficiency, and environmental outcomes
Why This Matters: This first-of-its-kind comprehensive inventory will help identify where Illinois stands today and where strategic support can have the greatest impact.

Who Should Respond

We're seeking responses from municipal, township, and county staff with the most familiarity with solid waste programs and contracts. If you received this notice but are not the right person, please forward it to the staff member responsible for recycling data and contracts in your organization.

What You'll Need Handy

To streamline your response, gather what you can of the following—submit what's available; estimates are welcome where exact figures aren't tracked:

  • Program contact details and the jurisdictions you serve.
  • Materials accepted; service types (curbside, drop-off, multifamily, commercial).
  • Service providers/haulers, MRFs, and contract dates/terms if applicable.
  • Tonnage by material (if tracked) and capture/contamination indicators (if available).
  • Annual program costs and key funding sources.

Data Handling

Local government data is typically subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Aggregated results will be used for statewide analysis. Neither Eunomia nor any other project partner will publish individually identifiable data without proper authorization.

Key Dates

  • Webinar: Monday, October 27, 2025 · 1:30 PM CT — Watch the Recording here
  • Survey Deadline: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Whether you complete the survey today or attend one of the webinars first, your participation matters. If you can't make it, a recording will be available for you to watch later. Thank you for helping Illinois build a complete picture of recycling needs statewide.

Take Action

📋 Start the Survey 🎥 Watch Webinar Recording

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the survey take?

Depending on data availability, most respondents can complete the survey in about 30–45 minutes. You can save progress and return later.

Can multiple team members contribute?

Yes. You may coordinate internally to gather information. If one person submits, that submission should represent your official response.

What if we don't track a requested metric?

Provide your best estimate or explain "not tracked." Imperfect data is still useful for gap analysis.

Will our data be published individually?

No. Data will be used only in aggregated form for statewide analysis. Individual municipal data will not be published without proper authorization.