Officials stepping up efforts to get recyclables separated; ‘We want people making informed decisions’

Frank Pettis, the founder of environmental consulting firm GreenLit Solutions, is helping people in Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion to make sure their recycling container has only reusable items, while the rest goes in the garbage.

Pettis said there has been confusion among people in the three cities. In some cases, there is a lack of knowledge, and in other instances, a language barrier gets in the way.

He is looking for ways to help people know the difference.

“We also know recycling rules change per hauler,” Pettis said. “They change from time to time, and they change per municipality. This is an effort to meet residents where they are; to work with residents to make sure the current rules about recycling are as clear and concise as possible.”

Pettis explained his mission in cooperation with the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) to help reduce contamination in the recycling stream during a meeting of the Waukegan City Council Monday at Cibagety Hall.

Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said when the city switched haulers from Waste Management to LRS in October of 2023, residents needed to adjust to a new system. They received two containers — navy blue for garbage and light blue for recycling. Recycling was new.

Some residents were slow to learn the difference When people put garbage in the recycling container, Pettis said it contaminates the recycling stream mixing recyclable materials with garbage. Cunningham said education is the solution.

“We believe proper education on the importance of recycling in English and Spanish will resolve the issue,” Cunningham said., “He (Pettis) is working with LRS and SWALCO in English and Spanish to help with an outreach program.”

On the top of the recycling container is a graphic design showing both in words and pictures what belongs in the recycling bin and what should go in the garbage can. Though Waukegan has a large Spanish-speaking population, the communication is only in English.

Nevertheless, when LRS drivers see an item that does not belong in a recycling bin, they leave a written warning, then another if it happens again, and eventually take the recycling container from the customer. Pettis said the warnings are in English and Spanish, but the Spanish print is very small.

“The label only helps if you can read English,” Pettis said. “It’s hard to determine what is recyclable and what is not. They mix recycling in with the garbage. Anything mixed together contaminates the whole thing, even if it’s only 10%.”

Rather than rely on modern methods of communication like social media, Pettis said he is embarking on a grassroots campaign to “meet the people where they are” through faith-based and community organizations, as well as other ways to directly communicate.

Funded through a $2 million grant to the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve environmental research, SWALCO Executive Director Walter Wallis said he directed an $83,000 subgrant to fund Pettis’ effort.

“This is another way to engage people and let the folks in Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion know what’s available,” Wallis said. “We want to get into the churches and the schools. This is a different way to get the word out. Though 80% of the people are aware, there are still some who aren’t.”

Along with educating people, Pettis said he is working with LRS to help people get their containers back. He and his team are also going to homes in select areas ahead of the scheduled pickup and doing their own check. They leave their own bilingual tags with a positive message.

“You have to have pictures in a distinguishable format for people to get it,” Pettis said. “It has to be sensitive to cultural differences. We want people making informed decisions.”