ICC 2026

Abstract

Green Era is a first-of-its-kind community-owned circular economy campus on Chicago's South Side that converts food waste into renewable energy, compost, and good local jobs. This session shares how circular infrastructure can function as climate action in practice when it is designed to deliver environmental benefits, economic value, and community impact at the same time.

The session highlights current operations and upcoming updates, including how anaerobic digestion fits into regional climate strategies, how value is retained locally through community ownership, and how circular systems can support workforce development alongside emissions reduction.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the core elements of a working circular economy model that delivers climate and community benefits simultaneously.
• Understand how operational circular infrastructure can support climate goals while retaining value locally.

Target Audience

Municipal officials, haulers, MRF operators, recycling coordinators, educators, nonprofits, private industry, policy makers, students, general public.

Abstract

WasteNot operates an opt-in source-separated organics compost collection service for the City of Lake Forest. With 40% of household waste divertible through commercial composting, WasteNot provides a 5-gallon bucket swap service for residents who sign up. Since launching in September 2023, the program has diverted over 100,000 pounds of compostable waste.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the source-separated 5-gallon bucket swap model for residential organics.
• Learn how municipalities can implement similar opt-in programs.
• Gain insight into resident outreach and engagement approaches.

Abstract

ISTC is conducting food waste audits at four Cook County facilities — two hospitals and two carceral facilities. This session shares the audit process, barriers encountered, learnings, and next steps toward reducing and diverting institutional food waste from the landfill.

Learning Objectives

• How counties can tackle food waste from their large institutions.

Working description

A rapid-fire overview of the Feed the Cart Project with participating partners, paired with a detailed implementation case study of the City of Chicago's Recycle Coach rollout (presented by a City representative named "Carter" in the working draft).

Committee notes

• Confirm whether this is one combined 60-minute session or two 30-minute back-to-back presentations.
• Identify and confirm Feed the Cart lightning-round partner presenters.
• Confirm full name and title for "Carter" (City of Chicago) and secure commitment.

Abstract

EcoShip is a nonprofit that keeps packaging materials in circulation throughout Illinois. The presentation covers the volume of packaging sent out and disposed of daily (1.5 million items by Amazon alone), how many lifecycles these items can actually have (up to 50 for plastic mailers), and case studies from throughout Chicago and the suburbs including Park Ridge and Evanston. The session highlights the benefits of reuse for local businesses, community members, nonprofits, and schools.

Learning Objectives

• Where and how to drop off packaging materials for reuse rather than disposal.
• Partner network that reuses packaging and pathways for partnership, collaboration, and volunteering.

Abstract

Traditional single-use foodware can use coatings that leach PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) into food and beverages, with potential adverse health effects, and contribute to plastic pollution. Restaurants and food-focused organizations are interested in transitioning to safer foodware but often lack the time and resources to research options.

The EnergySense Resilience Center at the University of Illinois and the Illinois Green Business Association, along with Takeout 25, Seven Generations Ahead, and Bright Beat, collaborated to promote widespread adoption of alternative single-use foodware without harmful chemicals. This session shares results from the initiative after serving 31 food businesses and nonprofit organizations, including cost analysis of recommendations, transition qualitative feedback, and a case study of success.

Learning Objectives

• Real-world costs of transitioning to compostable foodware.
• Tools to promote safer products and help businesses identify comparable alternatives.
• Strategies to overcome transition barriers for food businesses and nonprofits.

Abstract

Bubbly Dynamics shares resources and best practices for finding the highest and best use for materials that still have value — applicable to businesses, organizations, neighborhoods, and households. Bubbly Dynamics is a mission-driven social enterprise that transforms cast-off buildings into small business incubators (The Plant, a former meatpacking facility, plus Bubbly and Norwich light-industrial incubators) and implements creative resource and energy efficiencies.

The session covers specialized waste strategies across Bubbly Dynamics buildings: maximizing the value of mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, metal, food scraps, e-waste, and tricky-to-recycle items that don't belong in the landfill or conventional recycling stream. It also introduces Reuse-a-Palooza, the semiannual repair, repurposing, and recycling fair held at The Plant.

Learning Objectives

• Identify used materials that have inherent value.
• Understand avenues for repurposing, repairing, and responsibly recycling materials.
• Understand basic circular economy principles.

Committee note

Candidates for this slot include the currently-unplaced proposals (see "Additional Accepted Proposals" section): Tracy Bugh's Sustainable Adventures Framework session or Anne-Marie Hanson's Circular Economy Startup Simulator would both fit the Education/Diversion track. Alternatively, the 75-minute slot length could accommodate Tracy Bugh's user-testing workshop if moved here (though workshop guidance suggests 60–90 minutes, so a slight run-long).

Abstract

Thrift stores have the challenging job of sorting the unwanted, highly variable-value waste of entire communities. Salt & Light is a 10,000 sq. ft. grocery store and 15,000 sq. ft. thrift store in Urbana working to share God's love by fighting poverty with opportunities that empower people for lasting change. Many donated items don't pass the "dignity test" for resale, and sometimes there isn't enough labor to sort all incoming items. This waste can translate into burdensome trash bills: Salt & Light spent over $155,000 on trash last year — 5.68% of total operating expenses.

This presentation describes how Salt & Light has refused, recycled, and diverted unusable textiles, glassware, metals, electronics, furniture, and bulky plastics for environmental and financial benefit. Since 2012, Salt & Light has diverted ripped, stained, or unwearable clothes through textile recycling — uncommon in downstate Illinois. The session addresses ongoing challenges, barriers, and the regional and national landscape of thrift stores as "front lines" of waste management.

Learning Objectives

• Identify successes and challenges in downstate specialty (textile, glass, ceramic) recycling.
• Identify gaps for financial, municipal, and programmatic support for materials currently managed by thrift stores.
• Invite discussion of the shifting role of thrift stores as "front lines" for common items.

Abstract

Learn about the national environmental concerns of landfill waste and the socioeconomic impact of furniture poverty across the USA. Chicago Furniture Bank — the largest furniture bank in the US — has furnished over 25,000 homes and more than 62,000 residents in Chicagoland, repurposing over 340,000 pieces of furniture. The organization has diverted over 21 million pounds of furniture from landfills, and over 42,000 mattresses and box springs have been disinfected and repurposed.

Learning Objectives

• Environmental impact of mattresses and other furniture in landfills. Create a sustainability policy and plan for your home, campus, or business.
• Understand furniture poverty as a national issue — its mental health and community impact, and how to make a major impact toward elimination.
• How to donate used furniture to Chicago Furniture Bank from anywhere in the country. Low cost, high impact, tax-deductible benefits.