Question 1

What is this campaign about?

Accepted Answer

Due to significant increases in recycling processing costs, The City of Lake Forest is conducting a two-year campaign to lessen recycling waste from 25% to 10%. If the goal is met, our recycling processing costs will be reduced by 25% per ton. To achieve this goal, residents are asked to rethink how they recycle in order to save significant revenue for the City. The focus of the campaign is on what should and should not be placed in a recycling bin.

Question 2

How long will the campaign run?

Accepted Answer

Rethink Recycling is a two-year campaign that includes ongoing measurement and evaluation for the life of the effort. It is possible we will adjust the program timetable based on results lessening recycling waste.

Question 3

Who paid for this campaign?

Accepted Answer

The Lake Forest Garden Club generously provided the City of Lake Forest with a community grant totaling $110,000 to fund this expansion of Lake Forest’s Recycling Education Campaign. The Lake Forest Garden Club, established 1912, is a long-time partner and collaborator with The City of Lake Forest and a leader in advocating for environmental conservation, beautification and educational efforts that benefit residents, visitors and businesses in Lake Forest and beyond.

Question 4

What are the goals of the campaign?

Accepted Answer

To reduce recycling waste from 25% to 10% thereby reducing the city’s recycling processing costs by 25% per ton.

Question 5

How are you measuring the success of the campaign?

Accepted Answer

The Rethink Recycling campaign is being evaluated on an ongoing basis by the city’s Public Works department. We’re measuring the reduction in recycling waste in route to the goal of reducing waste from the current 25% down to 10%. Measurements of recycling waste are available to all residents via the News page of this website.

Question 6

Who is Bart the Cart?

Accepted Answer

I can answer that one. Hi everyone! I'm Bart the Cart. My job is to help Lake Forest residents learn what should and should not be placed in their recycle bins. I've organized my recommendations into four basic guidelines: Empty & Clean, No Plastic Bags, No Styrofoam, No Tanglers. Pretty simple, right? And it's really important. If we follow these guidelines, our recycled materials won’t clog recycling machines, because that causes additional work for the processors and ultimately drives up costs to the City.

About the Rethink Recycling Campaign

What is this campaign about?

How long will the campaign run?

Who paid for this campaign?

What are the goals of the campaign?

How are you measuring the success of the campaign?

Who is Bart the Cart?

Can I recycle this?

Shredded paper?

Amazon envelopes?

Starbucks cups and lids?

Plant containers and flats?

Magazines with staples?

#6 plastics?

Black plastic

Ice cream containers?

'Recycled' vs 'Recyclable'

What about K-cups?

The recycling process in Lake Forest

What is the recycling process in Lake Forest?

Where does our recycling go?

How much does the city pay for recycling annually?

What does 'contamination' mean?

But won't my cart get dirty if I don't pre-bag my recyclables?

Ooops! Card explained

The recycling process in Lake Forest

Water use when rinsing recyclables

Emissions from trucking during the recycling process