Abstract |
The Illinois Solid Waste Management Act was signed into law in September of 1986. The purpose of the Act is to reduce the State's reliance on land disposal of solid waste and promote (in descending order of preference) volume reduction, recycling and reuse, combustion with energy recovery, combustion with volume reduction, leaving disposal in landfills as a final alternative. The Act is implemented by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR), and the University of Illinois (U of I). The Act requires the IEPA to publish an annual report regarding the disposal capacity available for solid waste in Illinois sanitary landfills. In 1987 Illinois will dispose of 52 million cubic yards of solid waste. Of the volume, 2% will be recycled, 3% will be incinerated, and 95% will be landfilled. |