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McLean County Recycling Rate Nears 42 Percent; New Goal Is 50

Staff
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WGLT
McLean County's recycling rate in 2017 climbed to 41.9 percent, the Ecology Action Center reported.

Recycling rates in McLean County are approaching 42 percent, according to the Normal-based Ecology Action Center. That total eclipses the 40 percent annual benchmark for the second year in a row. 
Executive Director Michael Brown declared the new communitywide goal is 50 percent.

“We know that there are parts of the community that are still underserved in terms of not getting the message, not being aware of opportunities,” Brown said. “We are continuously working on new strategies and ideas.”

Brown said he believes 50 percent can be achieved through various means—one is Normal's proposed multifamily recycling ordinance.

“I think the multifamily housing effort will help,” Brown said. “I think it could even take a couple of years to really see that grow and really have an impact.”

Normal is hosting an informational session about the recycling proposal at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The EAC reports 211,230 tons of municipal solid waste was generated in McLean County last year and 88,459 tons of that was recycled.

Brown added the new Recycle Coach app has helped spread awareness about recycling options in the community.

The center's 20-year plan seeks ways to make commercial recycling more accessible.

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Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.
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