In 2017 McLean County addressed it’s issue of recycling by making a 20 year waste management plan. The county’s goal is to have a 60 percent recycling rate by the end of 2027. The plan focuses on recycling more and wasting less by prioritizing strategic recycling and addressing where the gaps are. McLean is currently in the second quarter of their plan. The current problems include organics and food waste, construction and demolition materials and commercial recycling. Currently, the biggest problem for the Ecology Action Center continues to be accessibility. Composting and correct disposal of food waste are the current goals. Food waste itself is very harmful for the environment, because when it decays in a landfill, it lets off methane which is a greenhouse gas. The community has committed to the cause, including Illinois State University, who has started an office of sustainability. Raising the recycling rate is a full community effort, not just for those in the Ecology Action Center. For any recycling questions, download the Recycle Coach app.