Mayor Lightfoot

Area Development Corporation. “Having access to true opportunity by getting the support one needs can be life changing for any individual. I am proud that the City of Chicago is working across all departments to create opportunities for returning residents that empower them and their community to change the course of their own destiny.”

“I would like to thank Mayor Lightfoot for embracing the power of second chances and equal opportunities for formally incarcerated people. These policies and

In the foreword of neckbone, Theaster Gates called young, “one of the most important thinkers on the Black experience.” His album booker t. soltreyne: a race rekkid (FPE Records) engages matters of race, gender, and sexuality in America during the Obama Era. young’s work in performance, visual text, and sound design has been featured in several exhibitions and theatre festivals — notably the Chicago Hip Hop Theatre Fest, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and the American Jazz Museum. In addition, he is one of four directors of the Floating Museum, a co-mentor for the Rebirth Youth Poetry Ensemble, and performs with his band, de deacon board.

With more than two decades of experience in the teaching artist field, young has led programs in and out of schools, community-based organizations, and other learning environments; he has also served as a teaching artist for the Arts and Public Life Artist-In-Residence at the University of Chicago. young’s work has been dedicated to helping youth overcome social and economic barriers to accessing Chicago’s artistic and cultural vitality. Learn more at averyryoung.com.

“Beverage container recycling refund programs have a proven track record of success and creating these incentives for consumers to recycle is effective,” said Sen. Murphy, a member of the Executive Committee. “The system proposed in my bill would be fiscally selfsustaining, while immediately reducing litter, cutting carbon emissions, and saving costs on trash cleanup in communities across the state. Today’s hearing is a major step toward getting this bill passed by the legislature.”

“This critical bill will increase the number of beverage containers that get recycled in Illinois,” said Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), one of the bill’s cosponsors. “It would also create jobs by increasing the need for workers to collect, sort, and transport containers for recycling, instead of ending up in landfills. This bill is a win for Illinois’s economy and the environment.”

“Implementing a recycling refunds program in Illinois will reduce the number of beverage containers that end up in landfills, which will be a substantial benefit to the environment,” said Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove), a co-sponsor of the bill. “The bill is also consumer-friendly, providing many convenient options for consumers returning beverage containers and collecting their refund.”

“Illinois spends more than $6 million a year on highway litter cleanup and the Chicago Park District spends another $4.7 million picking up trash,” said bill co-sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). “These numbers demonstrate the need for a recycling refund program in Illinois. I am proud to support this bill that will reduce litter, benefit the environment, and boost our state’s economy.” resources strengthen our communities by breaking the cycles of punishment and poverty that trap many formally incarcerated individuals and their families. Together, we will create a more productive and engaged society. Helping people build better futures for themselves and their families keeps society safe, and it allows us to create a community that truly values justice compassion and equality for all. We win when we invest in people!” said Celia Colón, Founder of Giving Others Dreams G.O.D Inc. citizennewspapergroup.com

The bill (SB 85) contains a provision requiring beverage distributors and importers to fund and manage a “distributor and importer responsibility organization.” This privately-run entity would establish and maintain redemption options where consumers can easily return containers and receive their refund. These convenient return options could include reverse vending machines and sites at retail stores where consumers can quickly drop-off bags of empty beverage containers to be processed later. Since the system would be funded by unredeemed deposits, sale of the redeemed material, and private sector fees, the state would not fund any portion of the system.

The program would set mandatory performance targets. These targets would begin at 70 percent of containers redeemed after two years of the program’s implementation and increase to 90 percent of containers recycled via refund redemption or the curbside recycling system over time. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency would handle oversight for this program.

These programs also have strong bipartisan support in Illinois. A poll conducted by Lincoln Park Strategies last year found that 80 percent of Illinoisans support beverage container recycling refund programs. The support number jumps to 90 percent in states that already have these programs.