Illinois Recycling Association & Foundation

Congratulations to Madison County Illinois Government for being recognized as the Outstanding Public Sector Program award recipient for their pursuit and achievement of Opening a Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. With the opening of this facility, the county has been able to quadruple their annual hazardous waste collection numbers in just a few months.

History of the Illinois Recycling Association and Illinois Recycling Foundation

The Illinois Recycling Association (IRA), a not-for-profit organization, was formed in 1980 as the Illinois Association of Recycling Centers.  The name was changed to IRA in 1990.  In 2020, the Association successfully split into two united but separate organizations to better address members’ needs.

The Illinois Recycling Association remains the 501(c)6 legislative division, working on various issues that rise to the level of needing legislative action.

The Illinois Recycling Foundation is the 501(c)3 group charged with providing educational literature, events, tours, networking opportunities, webinars and more on a statewide basis.

The membership consists of businesses, haulers and processors, non-profit organizations, municipal, county and state recycling coordinators,  educational institutions, consultants, manufacturers of recycled-content products and individuals interested in the industry.

Two Entities with one Mission:

The Illinois Recycling Association’s and the Illinois Recycling Foundation’s mission is to encourage the responsible use of resources by promoting Waste Reduction, Re-Use and Recycling.