By Lindsey Harrison/WMBD

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County is looking at how it can reduce its environmental impact over the next 20 years through recycling.

The community’s new Twenty-Year Solid Waste Plan takes a close look at the gaps and how can they be filled.

“Twenty years from now, we could theoretically be recovering a significant portion, 60 plus percent of our of our waste we generate and have 40 percent or less that we landfill,” said Michael Brown, Executive Director of the Ecology Action Center

Those gaps include recycling in apartment complexes, businesses, and increasing construction and demolition recycling.

Local college students, especially, have said in surveys they want more access to recycling.

“Climate change in general is something that our entire generation has heard a lot about and we don’t have a lot of control over it. We’ve inherited this huge problem and recycling is something we can do to lessen the damage a little bit.” explained ISU student Cassie Mett.

The proposal lays out bench marks to increase the rate of recycling and recommends, either a voluntary pilot program for businesses and landlords, or potentially an ordinance from local governments.

“It really just kind of outlines the goals and needs in the community. How we actually implement this in the future is going to take a lot more work,” Brown explained.

There is a public hearing about the plan Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at the Government Center in Bloomington.