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Illinois EPA-backed Recycle Coach app added to DuPage County website to simplify local recycling guidance
Summary
The DuPage County Environmental Committee saw a demonstration of Recycle Coach, an app and website widget the Illinois EPA contracted statewide. The tool provides address-specific schedules, translations into the county’s top languages, a 'what goes where' lookup and event listings; municipalities can customize content for their residents.
County staff demonstrated Recycle Coach, an app and embeddable widget the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency contracted to provide to counties and municipalities statewide. The county has added the widget to its website and communities can customize the information for their own residents.
Staff said the tool allows a resident to enter an address to receive curbside collection schedules, sign up for notifications (e.g., holiday delays), find nearby drop-off depots and view a searchable "what goes where" database covering hundreds of items. The county provided Recycle Coach with the county’s top languages so the tool’s pages and notifications can be translated. Staff said municipalities can also post local events and that their recycling depot information appears within local community pages.
Staff listed municipalities and participation status as of the demonstration: Lentonville and Downers Grove are onboarded, Naperville is working on integration, Wheaton’s launch was uncertain and Lombard opted not to participate. Staff said the state paid for the service and that some private entities (the transcript cited a retailer) chose to opt out because their private contractors already provide waste services.
The committee discussed how municipalities would manage their own schedule updates and event postings; staff said each municipality can update schedules while the county maintains countywide depot information. No formal committee action was requested; staff said they have informed mayors and managers and that the mayor’s caucus environmental committee recently reviewed the tool.
A county staff member demonstrated how users can type specific items — for example, "computers and tablets" — and receive guidance on whether the item is recyclable and where to drop it off. Staff said the tool will eventually replace the county recycling guide and is intended to reduce calls about ambiguous items such as compostable dishware or plastic straws.
