Illinois’ Governor Rod Blagojevich launched a new effort to boost recycling in the James R. Thompson Center and the Michael A. Bilandic buildings, the state’s main office buildings in downtown Chicago. This 6-month pilot program aims to develop a cost-savings model for improved recycling in state facilities across Illinois.
“Recycling is the right thing to do both environmentally and economically,” Blagojevich said. “Particularly in a time of great fiscal strain on our state and increasingly scarce natural resources, keeping more waste out of landfills by increasing how much waste we recycle, will reduce our waste disposal costs and help preserve our natural resources.”
The state hopes to reduce the volume of garbage that must be removed by waste haulers and maximize revenue by selling waste paper to recyclers. The state has contracted with Solid Waste Solutions, Corp., Evanston, Ill., to improve management of garbage and recyclable material in the two buildings.
Solid Waste Solutions will find opportunities to reduce waste and boost recycling, including training state employees to recycle more diligently.
“We think we can save the state 30 percent to 70 percent in waste disposal costs by diverting more recyclable material from the garbage and increasing operational efficiencies in state buildings,” said Peter Lobin, president of Solid Waste Solutions.
Solid Waste Solutions has had success with programs at several other buildings, including a more than 60 percent savings at the Cook County Building and a tripling of recycling volume at the Metcalfe Federal Building in Chicago.