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Permanent Collection Points

Permanent compostable waste collections are addressed in Section 22.55, subsection (d-6) of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. Below is the language contained in the Act.

(d-6) Permanent compostable waste collection points. To further aid in the collection and composting of compostable waste, as defined in subsection (b), a municipality may approve the operation of permanent compostable waste collection points at any site or facility within its territorial jurisdiction, and a county may approve the operation of permanent compostable waste collection points at any site or facility in any unincorporated area within its territorial jurisdiction. The approval granted pursuant to this subsection (d-6) must be in writing; must specify the location, operating days, and operating hours of the collection point; must list the types of compostable waste that will be collected at the collection point; and must specify a term of not more than 365 calendar days during which the approval will be effective. In addition, if the permanent compostable waste collection point is to be operated at a location within a county with a population of more than 400,000 but less than 2,000,000 inhabitants, according to the 2010 federal decennial census, then the operator of the collection point shall, at least 30 days before the collection point begins operation, provide a copy of the approval to the recycling coordinator designated by that county. The approval may include conditions imposed by the county or municipality as necessary to protect public health and prevent odors, vectors, and other nuisances. A permanent compostable waste collection point approved pursuant to this subsection (d-6) must be operated in accordance with the approval, including all conditions contained in the approval. The following requirements apply to the permanent compostable waste collection point, in addition to the conditions contained in the approval:

Standard Conditions for “Permanent Compostable Waste Collection Points

  1. Waste accepted at the collection point must be limited to the types of compostable waste authorized to be accepted under the approval.
  2. Information promoting the collection point and signs at the collection point must clearly indicate the types of compostable waste approved for collection. To discourage the receipt of other waste, information promoting the collection point and signs at the collection point must also include:
    1. examples of compostable waste being collected; and
    2. examples of waste that is not being collected.
  3. Compostable waste must be accepted only from private individuals. It may not be accepted from other persons, including, but not limited to, owners and operators of rented or leased residences where it was generated, commercial haulers, and other commercial, industrial, agricultural, and government operations or entities.
  4. Compostable waste must be managed in a manner that protects against releases of the waste, prevents nuisances, and otherwise protects human health and the environment. Compostable waste must be properly secured to prevent it from being accessed by the public at any time, including, but not limited to, during the collection point's non-operating hours. Permanent compostable waste collection points must be adequately supervised during their operating hours.
  5. Compostable waste must be secured in non-porous, rigid, leak-proof containers that:
    1. are no larger than 10 cubic yards in size;
    2. are covered, except when the compostable waste is being added to or removed from the container or it is otherwise necessary to access the compostable waste;
    3. prevent precipitation from draining through the compostable waste;
    4. prevent dispersion of the compostable waste by wind;
    5. contain spills or releases that could create nuisances or otherwise harm human health or the environment;
    6. limit access to the compostable waste by vectors;
    7. control odors and other nuisances; and
    8. provide for storage, removal, and off-site transfer of the compostable waste in a manner that protects its ability to be composted.
  6. No more than a total of 10 cubic yards of compostable waste shall be located at the permanent compostable waste collection site at any one time.
  7. Management of the compostable waste must be limited to the following: (A) acceptance, (B) temporary storage before transfer, and (C) off-site transfer.
  8. All compostable waste received at the permanent compostable waste collection point must be transferred off-site to a permitted compost facility not less frequently than once every 7 days.
  9. If a permanent compostable waste collection point receives waste other than compostable waste, then that waste must be disposed of not less frequently than once every 7 days.