DuPage County Commercial Recycling Program

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

DuPage County launched a Commercial Recycling Program resulting in over 150 businesses starting recycling programs and 1,875 tons diverted from area landfills. The tons of waste diverted represent a cost savings to waste haulers of $99,375 in landfill tipping fees. Additionally, DuPage County sponsored two free electronics recycling events for businesses which further diverted 87,413 pounds of electronics from landfill. These e-recycling events were introduced for the first time through the Commercial Recycling initiative. DuPage County staff also worked with businesses, which are large generators of food waste, to implement composting programs to cut their waste stream by at least 30%. Since 2010, nine businesses have begun food waste composting programs, with more grocery retailers and hotels to introduce composting programs in 2012. To increase awareness, the County began hosting a free annual recycling/waste minimization educational program in 2010, with over 100 attendees to date. Online resources, such as the County's Recycling Guide, were expanded to provide more information on where to recycle workplace items. DuPage County achieved these outcomes by working with businesses, municipalities, chambers, recyclers and waste haulers to implement recycling & composting pilot programs. The County continues to strive towards reaching a 40% commercial recycling rate.