Waukegan Launches Commercial Recycling Pilot

Two-month trial aims to expand recycling beyond residential areas

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Waukegan has launched a two-month pilot program to introduce commercial recycling in the city, starting with bins placed outside City Hall and the Metra train station. The goal is to gather data on participation and contamination rates to determine if the program can be expanded throughout the downtown area and other commercial districts.

Why it matters

Expanding recycling to commercial areas is seen as an important next step for Waukegan to "clean up our environment" and reduce waste sent to landfills, which are expected to reach capacity within 20 years. The pilot program aims to make recycling more accessible for businesses like bars, restaurants, and apartment buildings that currently have no option but to throw recyclables in the trash.

The details

The pilot program features one recycling bin placed next to a garbage can outside Waukegan City Hall and a second bin at the Metra train station. City officials and the waste hauler, LRS, will closely monitor the bins to ensure recyclables are being properly sorted and not contaminated by non-recyclable items like food waste. If the two-month pilot is successful, the city plans to work with LRS to expand the program by adding more recycling bins throughout the downtown area and other commercial districts.

  • The commercial recycling pilot program launched on Monday, March 4, 2026.
  • The pilot program will run for two months.

The players

Waukegan

The city of Waukegan, Illinois, which is launching the commercial recycling pilot program.

LRS

The waste hauler company that will service the recycling bins and monitor for contamination during the pilot program.

Lynn Florian

An 8th Ward alderman on the Waukegan City Council who initiated discussions about commercial recycling.

Sam Cunningham

The mayor of Waukegan who says expanding recycling to commercial areas is a "natural next move" for the city.

Chris Garland

Waukegan's public works director who will oversee the monitoring of the recycling bins during the pilot program.

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What they’re saying

“Cleaning up our environment is an area of concern for all of us. Finding ways to expand it in our community will make things better for the city, the community and the county.”

— Sam Cunningham, Mayor of Waukegan (chicagotribune.com)

“We want to make sure we have successful data to give us a successful pilot program.”

— Sam Cunningham, Mayor of Waukegan (chicagotribune.com)

“We don't want to look in the bin and see that all of it is not recyclable. If there is one thing not recyclable, it's all contaminated. We want to make sure it's all recycled.”

— Chris Garland, Public Works Director, Waukegan (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

If the two-month pilot program is successful, the city of Waukegan plans to work with waste hauler LRS to expand the commercial recycling program by adding more recycling bins throughout the downtown area and other commercial districts.

The takeaway

Waukegan's commercial recycling pilot program represents an important step in the city's efforts to reduce waste and improve its environmental sustainability. By making recycling more accessible to businesses, the city hopes to divert more recyclable materials from landfills and promote a cleaner, greener community.