Recycling program spared from the trash heap in McLean County

Posted on May 14, 2021
The county board voted 19-1 in favor of the agreement. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A proposal for McLean County government to spend $65,000 this year for a drop box recycling program found new life after a county board committee voted against the idea last month.

The three-year intergovernmental agreement with Bloomington and Normal was introduced again this month, and the full county board on Thursday night voted overwhelmingly in favor of it.

Each government will pay about a third of the cost, which troubled some rural county board members because all four of the drop-off points are in the Twin-Cities.

However, the Ecology Action Center presented results of a survey showing 30% of people bringing their recyclables to the drop boxes are from outside Bloomington-Normal.

Also, the agency found 51% of people living outside the Twin-Cities have no access to any residential recycling programs.

The county board voted 19-1 in favor of the agreement. The only no vote came from George Wendt, who said county government should have been more involved in discussions before Bloomington and Normal.

“We’re getting this with no choice,” said Wendt.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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