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Tales of Chicago’s Accidental Trash
In an effort to help residents retrieve valuables that are accidentally thrown away, Republic works closely with police and search dogs to help track down the materials.
1 Min Read
At a landfill owned by Republic Services in Pontiac, Ill., 5,000 tons of trash is dumped each week. And within that trash is accidental trash like jewelry, paper files and other valuables.
In an effort to help residents retrieve those valuables, Republic works closely with police and search dogs to help track down the materials. There is usually a 50-50 chance that police will find the lost valuables, according to Republic Services General Manager Brian Holcomb.
Chicago Tonight has more:
Bill Janes can tell you with surprising accuracy where your trash was dumped at his landfill the day you accidentally tossed a favorite piece of jewelry. But that doesn’t mean you’ll get it back.
Janes manages one of four area landfills that receive waste from Chicago. The landfill, owned by Republic Services, is 2 miles off I-55 in Pontiac and features two main hills spanning 550 acres, making it one of the largest landmarks (and likely the tallest) in Livingston County.
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