
Illinois Just Hired a New Coach to Help You With Recycling?
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) has unveiled an innovative partnership with Recycle Coach, a platform designed to enhance recycling education and streamline waste management for Illinois residents.
Bringing Recycling Education to Every Corner of Illinois
According to a press release from the Illinois EPA, this initiative will make recycling simpler and more effective for 6,835 units of local government, ensuring that every community has access to a tailored, easy-to-use resource.
The Illinois EPA is excited to offer this innovative technology that will provide all Illinois residents with advanced and easily accessible tools to allow them to increase and improve recycling throughout our communities. -Illinois EPA Director James Jennings
How Recycle Coach Works
Recycle Coach offers features like collection calendars, real-time notifications, and reminders through a free mobile app and website widget.
Residents can use the platform to find detailed, up-to-date information about local recycling rules and programs in multiple languages, according to the press release.

By eliminating confusion and educating users about proper recycling practices, the program will help reduce contamination at material recovery facilities and divert more waste from Illinois landfills.
A Growing Impact Across Illinois
Already, five counties and agencies—DuPage, Kane, Tazewell, the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, and the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, along with the City of Chicago, have successfully joined the program.
Currently available to 27% of the state’s population, the platform is expected to expand to 63% by March 2025.
Get Involved Today
Illinois residents can download the free Recycle Coach app to start improving their recycling habits.
Local governments interested in joining can email successgroup@recyclecoach.com for onboarding support.
According to the press release, the Illinois EPA says that together, Illinois is reducing landfill waste, preventing environmental contamination, and combating climate change, one recycled item at a time.
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Gallery Credit: Liz Barrett Foster