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About the Illinois Recycling Foundation

Championing sustainable practices across Illinois.

Pile of cardboard boxes and bottles

History of the Illinois Recycling Association & 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.

Membership

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
  • Individuals interested in the industry

Two Entities, 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.

The IRA and the IRF strive to:

Join Us

We welcome everyone whose work is related to recycling in any way to Join Us. Membership enables you to keep up with the latest developments and network with recycling colleagues. Learn more about some of the benefits on the Membership page.