CERA & Battery Stewardship Workshop
Your monthly update from the Illinois Recycling Foundation
2026 Illinois Circularity Conference
📅 August 19–20, 2026
Tinley Park, Illinois
The Illinois Circularity Conference returns this August for two days of sessions, networking, and collaboration focused on building a truly circular Illinois. Whether you work in local government, the private sector, education, or advocacy, ICC is the premier gathering for sustainability and materials management professionals in the state.
More details—including registration, sponsorship opportunities, and the full agenda—will be announced in the coming months. Mark your calendars now!
Share Your Expertise at ICC 2026 — Apply to Present Today!
The Call for Presentations is now open for the 2026 Illinois Circularity Conference. We're looking for practical, actionable sessions on topics including real-world case studies, policy and market insights, community engagement strategies, and emerging technologies in material management, recycling, and composting.
We especially welcome submissions from Young Professionals and Educators. The submission form takes just a few minutes—tell us your topic, a brief description, and who's presenting. Deadline: March 1, 2026.
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Learn More About All American Recycling
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President's Message
Clair Ryan
President, Illinois Recycling Foundation
It's hard to believe it's already February—2026 is moving fast, and so is the work happening across our recycling community. Our CERA & Battery Stewardship Workshop last month in Bloomington was a great success, and I'm grateful to everyone who joined us for a day of learning and collaboration.
I'm excited to share that planning for the 2026 Illinois Circularity Conference is well underway. We're building an agenda that reflects the energy and innovation happening across the state, and we need your voice to make it happen. The Call for Presentations is now open, and I strongly encourage our members and friends to submit a proposal. Whether you're presenting a case study, sharing a policy insight, or showcasing an innovative program—this is your opportunity to shine. The deadline is March 1, so don't wait.
And if you're reading this newsletter but haven't yet joined IRF, now is the perfect time. Your membership directly supports the trainings, workshops, and statewide convenings that keep Illinois moving toward a more circular future. There's a place for everyone in our network—municipalities, businesses, schools, nonprofits, haulers, and recyclers alike. I hope you'll join us.
Recycling News Around Illinois and Beyond
Illinois Clean Lighting Act Now in Effect — CFL Sales Banned
As of January 1, 2026, retailers and distributors in Illinois can no longer sell screw-base or bayonet-base compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The Clean Lighting Act (Public Act 103-0799) phases out mercury-containing fluorescent bulbs in favor of safer, more energy-efficient LED alternatives. The ban will expand on January 1, 2027, to include pin-base CFLs and linear fluorescent tubes commonly found in offices, schools, and warehouses.
The law is projected to save Illinois consumers over $1.5 billion on utility bills by 2050 and eliminate an estimated 419 pounds of mercury pollution from the state's waste stream. Existing fluorescent bulbs may continue to be used until they burn out, but should be properly disposed of at household hazardous waste collection events or participating retailers.
Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Hit Record High at Recycling Facilities
Publicly reported fires at waste and recycling facilities in the U.S. and Canada reached a record 448 incidents in 2025, driven largely by lithium-ion batteries in improperly discarded consumer products—especially disposable vapes. Industry groups NWRA, ReMA, and SWANA have jointly published a new guide on lithium-ion battery management at MRFs, calling for early detection systems, employee training, and safe storage protocols.
The trend underscores the importance of Illinois' new battery stewardship program and proper disposal at designated drop-off locations. Never place batteries, vapes, or electronics in your curbside recycling bin. Find a battery drop-off site at batterynetwork.org/illinois.
Spring Recycling Events Ramping Up Across Illinois
Recycling collection events are picking up across Illinois this spring. Kane County's popular "Big One" Shred & Recycle event returns February 28 in St. Charles, offering free document shredding plus electronics, textiles, batteries, and fluorescent bulb recycling. SWALCO is hosting Household Chemical Waste drop-offs on February 21 and 28 in Gurnee, free for all Illinois residents with an appointment. And looking ahead, Westmont's Electronics & More Recycling event is set for April 4.
With new battery and paint stewardship programs now active statewide, residents have more year-round options than ever. Check with your local solid waste agency or visit the Illinois EPA's HHW collection schedule for events near you.
PCs for People E-Waste Collections & Tech Assistance
PCs for People will be collecting equipment at Chicago Climate Connect’s “Evening of Circularity in Action” on Wednesday, March 18, from 6:00–8:00 pm at EcoShip (3248 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL). You can also drop off computers and related equipment for secure, responsible reuse and recycling at Reuseapalooza Spring 2026 at The Plant.
For organizations with 15 or more computers, you can schedule a free pickup. If you know a low-income household in need of an affordable computer and/or internet service, please direct them to the PCs for People tech assistance page.
Free ILCSWMA Webinar: Open Dump Sites
The Illinois Association of County Solid Waste Management Professionals (ILCSWMA) is pleased to offer a free webinar on Thursday, March 12, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. This session continues the vital conversation begun at the 2025 Illinois Circularity Conference titled, Revisiting Administrative Citations for Non-Permitted Open Dump Sites.
Free Battery Recycling is Now Available Throughout Illinois
Thanks to the Portable and Medium Format Battery Stewardship Act, residents, businesses, schools, and local governments can now recycle most household batteries at no cost through The Battery Network.
Funded entirely by battery manufacturers, the program covers three main categories: single-use and rechargeable household batteries, large rechargeable batteries (up to 25 lbs), and damaged or defective batteries. Embedded batteries, automotive lead-acid batteries, EV batteries, and recalled batteries remain the responsibility of the manufacturer and are not included in this program.
Safety first: Before dropping off lithium batteries, individually bag each battery or tape the terminals to prevent sparks and reduce fire risks during storage and transport.
Interested in becoming a collection site? Learn how to participate at batterynetwork.org/collection-partners or contact Regional State Stewardship Manager Marta Keane at mkeane@batterynetwork.org for large volumes.
Introducing Recycle Coach
The Illinois EPA and Recycle Coach are proud to launch digital technology for waste and recycling state-wide. This extended partnership gives every community access to digital tools to help empower residents to find hyper-local information fast and efficiently.
- Collection Calendars: Provide easy access to pick-up schedules, street sweeping details, events, and more.
- Notifications & Reminders: Send timely alerts for collection reminders, delays, and emergencies.
- Report A Problem: Make sure resident issues are routed to the right team for fast resolution.
- What Goes Where Search Tool: Cut contamination with an easy-to-use search tool, covering 400+ materials.
Ready to get started? Contact Liz Kunkle at lkunkle@recyclecoach.com.
Thank You to Our 2026 Benefactors
Your generous support helps make statewide recycling programs, education, and advocacy possible. We extend our sincere appreciation to our benefactors for their continued commitment to sustainability.
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"We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly."
— Anne-Marie Bonneau
Illinois Recycling Foundation
P.O. Box 411 | Geneva, IL 60134 | Phone: 708-847-7401
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