June 12, 2023
Lake County Sets New Standard for Sustainability with Green-Forward Leadership Initiatives
Lake County is excited to announce that it has received a 2023 Achievement Award from the National Associations of Counties (NACo). The award is for the County's new program that prohibits the purchase, sale and distribution of single-use plastics of food service items within County government operations and all County government sites. This prestigious award recognizes counties for innovative programs that strengthen services and modernize government.
The program, which went into effect at the beginning of 2023, will eliminate approximately one million single-use plastics from Lake County government operations by year’s end. Vending operations, cafeteria and coffee services and department purchasing were all overhauled to eliminate, swap, or discourage single-use plastics wherever reasonable.
“Our County Board and dedicated staff continue to set the bar high for sustainability initiatives that protect our water, air and soil,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “With just one program, we will be keeping millions of plastic items out of landfills in the years to come.”
In some Lake County government buildings, aluminum cans have replaced single-use plastic bottles in vending machines. Multiple vending machines containing single use plastic-wrapped items also have been removed from a number of facilities. And to provide the public who come to county facilities with more sustainable food options, the County has installed refrigerated self-serve vending machines. The new machines provide fresh, healthy meal options in reusable, recyclable containers.
“Plastic pollution is a growing concern and has been one of the committee’s top priorities to tackle,” said Jessica Vealitzek, chair of the Lake County Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee. “Our program shows that an ambitious initiative like this - with specific, measurable, and time-based goals - is entirely possible and can make a big difference.”
On the heels of the new award, Lake County is also announcing a new food scrap bin in the County cafeteria located at 18 N. County St., Waukegan. The new bin is available for Lake County employees and visiting members of the public to dispose of food scraps from meals.
To use the new food scrap bin, follow the signage posted at the sorting station by separating waste by type. Fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, grains, and other consumable items can be placed into the food scrap bin. A separate recycling bin is available for aluminum cans and recyclables. And in the trash bin goes all food service ware including compostable or biodegradable service ware, non-recyclable plastic items, and anything that you aren’t positive belongs in the first two bins. “When in doubt, throw it out!” is the rule of thumb.
The cost of disposing of garbage is increasing over time. Sorting food scraps, which eventually gets transformed into compost, reduces the amount of trash in our waste stream, saving taxpayer dollars and returning usable nutrients and energy to Lake County’s environment.
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