Lake County Urged to Step Up Recycling

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County has a mission to take a recycling program that is already successful and make it even stronger.

Starting this fall SWALCO will partner with the Curbside Value Partnership in a national program designed to help communities grow their curbside recycling programs through education.

Through this partnership, SWALCO and its members will implement and measure a grassroots education campaign designed to increase awareness for curbside recycling, grow participation and ultimately boost volume. Education tactics for the campaign are expected to include marketing, an enhanced Web and social media presence, advertising, public relations, and grassroots, community-level outreach.

“Many Lake County residents are already doing a great job, and we want to help them understand how they can do even better," said Craig Cookson, CVPboard member and director, sustainability and recycling, plastics division, for the American Chemistry Council. "The good news is that it’s never been easier to recycle more of the plastics and other materials we use every day.”

Since 2005, CVP has partnered with 29 communities and four states to develop, execute and measure highly effective education campaigns. SWALCO is a municipal joint action agency that serves 41 municipalities  

“SWALCO is proud to partner with CVP for this important education campaign,” said Walter Willis, executive director of SWALCO. “We look forward to accessing and benefiting from the depth of CVP’s resources and expertise. We’re particularly interested in collaborating on an effective education campaign that will help us hit the 60 percent diversion goal we set for ourselves in our strategic plan.”

When officials launch the campaign this fall CVP will promote best practices gleaned from the effort to communities across the country via its website and its new online training tool, CVP Connect.

 For more information visit SWALCO's website.