Study Shows Illinois Cities Struggle to Boost Recycling Rates

A new report shows that Chicago, as well as five other cities in Illinois, are failing to meet the nation’s average recycling rates.

The study, “The State of Recycling in Illinois,” was compiled by the Illinois chapter of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The nonprofit research group collected and examined recycled data from the past three years for some of the state’s largest cities.

According to a WTTW report, recent changes in international trade—China’s import ban on plastic waste—gives Illinois and other states an opportunity to expand their recycling economies by investing in better collection, sorting and reprocessing systems.

WTTW has more details:

Chicago’s recycling woes have been well-documented, but a new report shows that at least five other cities in Illinois are failing to meet average U.S. recycling rates.

According to a new study by the Illinois chapter of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, at least six of the state’s largest 11 cities have recycling rates below the national average of about 35 percent.

As part of its study, “The State of Recycling in Illinois,” the nonprofit collected and examined recycling data from the past three years for some of Illinois’ most populous cities. Chicago’s recycling rate of 9 percent in 2017 (the most recent data available) was the worst, but none of the other cities had rates above 30 percent.

Read the full article here.