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Lightfoot to launch waste management study, hopes to find way to improve Chicago’s dismal recycling rate

For years, Chicago aldermen and the Illinois Environmental Council have demanded a review of managed competition, which has allowed Waste Management to mark blue recycling carts as contaminated — even though that company has a “financial incentive to divert” the contents of those recycling bins to landfills they own and operate. Read the Full Article

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The Illinois EPA Faces Challenges

“The IEPA today is mostly focused on permitting,” said Jennifer Walling, CEO of the Illinois Environmental Council. “When you have a new facility or your permit expires, putting together a permit to allow you to engage in whatever polluting activity you like. They do have inspectors to inspect, fine violations and maybe do a compliance

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Lightfoot’s Actions on Environmental Campaign Promises Are Off to a Slow Start

“I would not call this first step keeping that promise,” said Jennifer Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, referring to Lightfoot’s campaign pledge. Walling, whose organization represents about 80 environmental groups, said she understands the budget constraints but wonders how much power Lightfoot will give the new officer. “It’s really important for that

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Report: Illinois has seen most environmental job cuts in US since 2008

“I know the people at Illinois EPA are trying to do their jobs and the obligations we’ve given them with limited resources, but it’s just too little and the work isn’t getting done,” said Jen Walling, Executive Director of the nonprofit Illinois Environmental Council. “This means that people are subject to more pollution, polluters are

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NEW REPORT: Illinois over 200 years from reaching nutrient pollution reduction goals

Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture Groups Respond to IEPA Agriculture Pollution Report​ SPRINGFIELD, IL —  Conservation and sustainable agriculture organizations working to reduce nutrient pollution in Illinois waterways have issued the following joint statement in response to the release of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) Biennial Report by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)

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How tough is the Illinois law on ethylene oxide? Not nearly tough enough, some lawmakers and residents say.

“It’s disappointing to hear they think that way because it shows industry stakeholders aren’t taking this crisis seriously,” said Jennifer Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, a nonprofit group that helped draft legislation opposed by Griffith and other business lobbyists. “They appear to be more interested in protecting the bottom line than negotiating

How tough is the Illinois law on ethylene oxide? Not nearly tough enough, some lawmakers and residents say. Read More »

Illinois Environmental Council ‘solarbrates’ new solar rooftop at Springfield office

Despite persistent rain, it was a “solarbration” at the Illinois Environmental Council’s Springfield office, 520 E. Capitol Ave., Thursday afternoon as the advocacy group celebrated its new solar rooftop project. The 9.72kW system is going to offset about eight tons of carbon emissions each year, more than 40 percent of the building’s total consumption for

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A year later, fight against ethylene oxide persists: ‘These folks aren’t going away.’

For many of the activists and leaders, victories in recent months haven’t tempered their anger and frustration about toxic pollution from the release of ethylene oxide for decades. “I’m used to seeing these movements wilt after somebody promises new laws or regulations,” Jennifer Walling, who grew up near Sterigenics in Darien and now leads the

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Illinois marijuana growers will face energy efficiency and reporting rules

“I think that overall, we ended up in a very strong position with the environmental concerns regarding cannabis in this bill,” said Cary Shepherd, policy director at the Illinois Environmental Council. Shepherd helped draft the legislation’s efficiency requirements along with members of the University of Chicago Abrams Environmental Law Clinic and the Midwest Energy Efficiency

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Illinois legislators unveil bill to keep ethylene oxide emissions away from ‘densely populated regions’

“Anything where you’re phasing out or banning a chemical is going to be difficult. And I think that this is going to have opposition from several industry stakeholders,” said Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council. “I think that the governor is excited to sign a strong piece of legislation that would come

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Legislators Stand Together to Introduce Legislation to Phase Out Ethylene Oxide Emissions

Statewide bill would protect communities from cancer-causing emissions CHICAGO – Today, state lawmakers were joined by Stop Sterigenics, Stop ETO, Clean Power Lake County, and The Illinois Environmental Council, to announce legislation that will protect the public from ethylene oxide (EtO) exposure through a complete phase out of EtO emissions.  HB3888 sponsored by Rep. Rita Mayfield, Rep.

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Illinois Sets Strict Energy Efficiency Rules For Cannabis Growers

“It is the best in terms of sustainability regulations of any cannabis regulation in the country,” said Jennifer Walling, the executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council. The environmental council represents more than 80 environmental groups in Illinois and pushes for stronger environmental laws and policies at the state capitol. Those groups were concerned about

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Illinois Governor Signs Bill Allowing State To Create GHG Restrictions

“In 1998, an anti-environment majority restricted Illinois’ ability to tackle air pollution, including carbon emissions. Twenty-one years later, a majority of the Illinois House and now Illinois Senate supports action on climate change and reducing Illinois’ carbon emissions,” comments Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council. Read the Full Article Here.

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As Newark Deals With Water Crisis, Another Look at Lead Levels in Chicago

A Q&A with three key players when it comes to Chicago’s water quality: Andrea Holthouse Putz, deputy commissioner of water supply for the Chicago Department of Water Management; Dr. Allison Arwady, chief medical officer and acting commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health; and Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council. Read

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