Macon County's Solid Waste Management Department was formed in 1991 to implement the Solid Waste Management Plan adopted by the County Board. The Plan calls for education, enforcement and recycling options through the planning and development of programs in conjunction with the current infrastructure in Macon County and surrounding central Illinois region; and continuing research of commercial and industry developments that identify opportunities to improve or expand solid waste services to our citizens.

Certain items require special disposal by state and federal law, but other materials may have a number of recycling options. For specifics, check out the Recycling and Reuse Guide. We also have a list of facilities that provide various solid waste disposal services, like the landfill, recycling centers, compost facilities, and scrap yards.

The "Plan" itself is constructed and revised under the authority of the Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act of 1988, which required all counties with over 100,000 citizens to have a Solid Waste Plan. This document calls for the implementation of a comprehensive integrated solid waste management program that is economically and environmentally sound, that meets Federal and State requirements, and that addresses the solid waste management needs of Macon County residents.

The Department is funded through the "Surcharge Tipping Fee" of $1.27 per ton of municipal solid waste tipped at the Onyx Valley View Landfill. "Municipal solid waste" is defined in the Environmental Protection Act (the Act) as garbage, general household and commercial waste, industrial lunchroom or office wastes, landscape waste and construction and demolition debris. The enforcement program is partially funded ($46,471) with a grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).