Libertyville adopts SWALCO recycling pact

• Reprints

Updated: February 27, 2012 9:49AM

Libertyville officials have accepted a challenge by the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County to reduce its recycling rate from 39 percent to 60 percent over the next eight years.

The SWALCO report suggests specific community goals for reducing both residential and commercial landfill waste disposal. Local residential waste in 2010 was 2.1 pounds per capita per day (PCD). The individual disposal goal for 2015 is 1.6 pounds PCD, and by 2020 is 1.35 pounds PCD.

Commercial disposal in 2010 was 2.92 pounds PCD. In 2015, the goal is 2.52 PCD, and in 2020 it will be 2.13 pounds PCD.

Overall, the individual disposal rate in Lake County in 2010 was 4.8 pounds PCD.

“These reductions are lofty goals, but I believe attainable in recycling more of our waste,” Trustee Jay Justice remarked in voting for the proposal at Tuesday night’s Village Board meeting.

Trustee Donna Johnson said while these goals are challenging, everyone will have to make some concessions for the program to be successful.

Landfills in rapidly developing Lake County are becoming rare. A 27-member SWALCO task force was charged with realistically assessing waste disposal practices and improving recycling efforts.

They arrived at recommending a voluntary 60 percent recycling rate throughout the county by 2020. They are asking each community to review their recycling patterns and strive to meet the 60 percent recycling goal by 2020.

In other action, the board:

Approved a three-year contract with Northeastern Illinois Municipal Electric Cooperative to purchase electricity in bulk for its large volume village users, such as the Libertyville Sports Complex and its water and wastewater treatment plants. The contract would begin in May, if the village finds the bid results favorable.