In July 2024, the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) updated its solid waste management plan.聽The updated 鈥淐ook County聽Solid Waste Management Plan 2024-2029: The Path Toward Zero Waste and A Circular Economy鈥� plan recommends actions to reduce the climate impact of solid waste and provides聽direction for Cook County鈥檚 waste prevention, reduction, reassembly, remanufacturing, reuse, repair, repurpose, recycling, composting, collection and other solid waste related investments, policies and practices over the next five years.聽The updated plan sets forth 43 recommendations for 16 major areas of focus that will help move the zero waste and circular economy systems in Cook County forward.
The聽recommendations are based on the data presented in the updated plan and the feedback received from members of the Cook County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, local and state partners, environmental advocacy organizations and members of the public. The recommendations represent programs and efforts the County can reasonably implement over the next five years that will help push the County towards achieving its new goal of 45% waste diversion rate by 2030.
The Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act (415 ILCS 15/) requires counties to develop an initial solid waste management plan and subsequent plan updates 鈥渢hat place substantial emphasis on recycling and other alternatives to landfills, to encourage municipal recycling and source reduction, and to promote composting of yard waste.鈥� Cook County ordinance further requires an advisory committee be formed to 鈥渞eview the plan during its preparation, make suggestions and propose any changes it believes appropriate.鈥�
The plan will help set priorities to promote safe, practical, environmentally beneficial and economically sound solid waste management practices for suburban Cook County. This update addresses issues and opportunities in curbside recycling, food scrap composting, household hazardous waste, electronic waste, and construction and demolition debris.
Suburban Cook County encompasses 127 municipalities, as well as unincorporated areas, with a combined population of approximately 2.5 million. 聽Residents, businesses and public facilities in suburban Cook County generate approximately three million tons of waste annually. In 2016, Cook County municipal waste hauler data indicated that haulers collected an estimated 8.2 pounds per household per day of waste and an estimated 1.87 pounds per household per day of recyclable materials.