Solid waste includes garbage, construction debris, commercial refuse, sludge from water supply or waste treatment plants, or air pollution control facilities, and other discarded materials. 

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was enacted by Congress in 1976 and amended in 1984. The act's primary goal is to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal. In addition, RCRA calls for conservation of energy and natural resources, reduction in waste generated, and environmentally sound waste management practices.

To Reduce…

Means consuming and throwing away less. It is known as waste prevention or source reduction. It actually prevents the generation of waste in the first place, so it is the most preferred method of waste management.

To Reuse…

Means to repair items, donate items to charity and community groups, or resell items.

To Recycle…

Means turning materials, which would otherwise become waste, into valuable resources.
  

Recycling FACTS

• Americans dump 180 million tons of garbage annually, more than 40% is paper.
• Every day American businesses generate enough paper to circle the Earth 20 times.
• Plastic bottles take 450 years to decompose.
• Paper takes 100 years to decompose.
• Polystyrene cups and glass take 1 million years to decompose – so they don’t!
• Aluminum cans decompose in 200-500 years.
  

Recycling BENEFITS

• Recycling cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions, keeps valuable material out of landfills and incinerators, and conserves natural resources.
• Source reduction (waste prevention) prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases, reduces pollutants, saves energy, conserves resources, and reduces the need for new landfills and combustors.
• Recycling, including composting, diverted 82 million tons of material away from disposal in 2006, up from 15 million tons in 1980.
  

2 County Recycling Program

Contracted through NCICG and funded through County revenue and state grants, the 2-County Recycling Program targets solid waste and recycling awareness throughout the area. 

The program is intended to increase recycling in the area through program incentives, grant funding, and public education. The goal is to meet or exceed the state-mandated recycling goal of 15%. The Solid Waste Management Plan was last updated in 2005. 

The program has used grant funds for community curbside recycling programs, recycling center improvement projects, purchase of recyclable material containers, recycling promotion programs, and educational materials and promotional events. 

Further information can be obtained on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Website at www.epa.gov. 

Marshall & Putnam County Recycling

A lot has been going on with the Two-County Recycling Program this year. One main agenda this year has been to promote the recycling program. The first promotional event was on Earth Day 2009. We gave away 100 trees (50 in Marshall County and 50 in Putnam County). With the trees we included information on Earth day, Arbor Day, and the Two-County Recycling Program.

Big projects have been created based on interest from the community members. In the spring of 2009, an application for a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, from the Illinois Department of Environmental Protection Agency, was submitted. Due to recent State budget constraints the program has been suspended. The applications will remain on file, however, for when the program is reinstated.

The Marshall Putnam Fair, held in early July, was a success. The recycling display was updated this year with current and interesting facts, such as, “380 billion plastic bags or wraps are thrown away in America each year.” Reusable bags are everywhere, so we wanted to help promote their use. To further encourage this, we gave away cloth NCICG bags.

The current project agenda is to find an electronics recycling service so an Electronic Recycling Day may be held in Marshall County or Putnam County. Research to find the best suited company to work with is underway.

For further information or questions about the Marshall-Putnam Recycling contact us at 815/875-3396.