(415 ILCS 180/15)

Sec. 15. Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council.

(a) The Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Agency. On or before January 1, 2024, the Director shall appoint members to the Advisory Council to provide advice and recommendations to the Agency in the drafting, amendment, and finalization of the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment.

(b) In appointing members to the Advisory Council under subsection (a), the Director shall consider representatives from all geographic regions of the State, all sizes of communities in the State, all supply chain participants in the recycling system, and the racial and gender diversity of this State.

(c) Members of the Advisory Council shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following voting members:

(1) four individuals representing material recovery facilities in the State, no more than 2 of whom shall represent an MRF that accepts recyclables from Cook County or the collar counties;

(2) four individuals representing haulers, one of whom shall represent a statewide organization representing haulers, one of whom shall represent a publicly traded hauler, one of whom shall represent a privately owned hauler, and one of whom shall operate a recycling drop-off facility;

(3) one individual representing compost collection and processing facilities;

(4) eight individuals representing rural and urban units of local government, one of whom shall represent a county with a population of less than 50,000, one of whom shall represent a county with a population of more than 50,000 and less than 1,000,000, one of whom shall represent a county with a population of more than 1,000,000, two of whom shall represent municipalities with a population of less than 1,000,000, one of whom shall represent a statewide organization of municipalities as authorized by Section 1-8-1 of the Illinois Municipal Code, one of whom shall represent a municipal joint action agency, and one of whom shall represent a municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or more;

(5) two individuals representing retailers, one of whom shall represent a statewide association of retailers;

(6) two individuals representing environmental organizations;

(7) two individuals representing environmental justice advocacy organizations or environmental justice communities;

(8) one individual representing a statewide manufacturing association;

(9) one individual representing manufacturers of products containing postconsumer material, or one or more associations of such manufacturers;

(10) one individual representing manufacturers of packaging and paper products utilizing virgin materials, or one or more associations of suppliers of substrates of packaging and paper products; and

(11) four individuals representing producers of consumer products.

(d) An individual may be appointed to only one position on the Advisory Council. Upon completion of the duties of the Advisory Council, appointments to the Advisory Council shall be terminated and the Advisory Council shall be dissolved.

(e) The duties of the Advisory Council are as follows:

(1) to provide guidance on the scope of work for the Statewide Recycling Needs Assessment required under Section 25;

(2) to assist in the provision of data required to complete the needs assessment;

(3) to review and comment on the needs assessment prior to completion;

(4) to review packaging and paper products legislation enacted in other states, including identifying the main components of the legislation, its implementation steps, and its implementation status;

(5) to evaluate and make recommendations, including legislative recommendations, on how to effectively establish and implement a producer responsibility program in the State for packaging and paper products, including recommendations regarding the responsibilities of producers under a producer responsibility program; and

(6) on or before December 1, 2026, to prepare and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor, which shall include an opportunity for a minority report.

(f) The Advisory Council:

(1) shall meet at the call of the Chair, except for the first meeting, which shall be called by the Director;

(2) shall meet at least quarterly or as determined by the Advisory Council Chair;

(3) shall elect a Chair from among Advisory Council members by a simple majority vote;

(4) may adopt bylaws and a charter for the operation of its business for the purposes of this Act; and

(5) shall be provided administrative support by the Agency and Agency staff.

(g) The Agency may select and hire a third-party facilitator for the Advisory Council.

(Source: P.A. 103-383, eff. 7-28-23.)