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PROPOSED ORDINANCE
WASTE DIVERSION AT LARGE EVENT FACILITIES
WHEREAS, on January 1, 2025, the State of Illinois enacted the Large Event Facilities Act, 415 ILCS 190/1, (the Act), to require recycling and composting at large event facilities throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, the Act provides that a State’s Attorney or municipal attorney may prosecute an owner or operator of an event facility who violates the Act; and
WHEREAS, Section 30-62 of the Cook County Environmental Control Ordinance provides that it is the duty of the Director of the Department of Environment and Sustainability to supervise the execution of all laws, ordinances, rules and regulations pertaining to the control of environmental pollution in Cook County, except within the corporate limits of the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, on July 24, 2024, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved the Updated Cook County Solid Waste Management Plan (2024-2029) (SWMP), which presents a progressive vision for managing solid waste in Cook County through the implementation of best practices in solid waste management; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners supports the expansion of zero waste and circular economy best practices over the next five years as described in the SWMP; and
WHEREAS, more than a dozen large event facilities in Suburban Cook County generate large amounts of waste at each event, which can be recycled or composted if properly managed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 30 of the Cook County Environmental Control Ordinance, Article VI, the Cook County Solid Waste and Recycling Ordinance, Division 7 WASTE DIVERSION AT LARGE EVENT FACILITIES, Sections 30-921 and 30-922 of the Cook County Code, is hereby enacted as Follows:
Sec. 30-921. Recycling and composting requirements.
An owner or operator of an event facility that has a maximum legal capacity or occupancy of at least 3,500 persons shall collect and transfer items generated at a public meeting or public event held at the event facility as follows:
(a) On and after January 1, 2026, the owner or operator must separately collect all recyclable materials and organic waste generated in non-public “back-of-house” locations of the facility, including but not limited to indoor kitchens, catering locations, food preparation areas, private conference rooms and employee break rooms.
(b) On and after January 1, 2027, the owner or operator must separately collect all recyclable materials and organic waste generated in public “front-of-house” locations of the facility by providing separate, clearly labeled containers stationed at or near the garbage containers throughout the facility, or at approximately the same spacing as the garbage containers, unless other locations are approved in writing by the Director and/or the Director’s designee.
(c) All recyclable materials and organic waste collected pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section must be diverted from the waste stream and transferred to a properly permitted recycling facility, composting facility, anaerobic digestor facility, and/or a food donation center.
Sec. 30-922. Large event facility reporting.
(a) The owner or operator of an event facility subject to the requirements of Section 30-921 shall submit quarterly reports to the Department, in such form and containing such information as required by the Director, which may include, but is not limited to, information about the types and amounts of materials recycled, repurposed, reused, composted, donated, and/or landfilled.
(b) Quarterly reports are due April 30 for the period of January 1 to March 31, July 31 for the period of April 1 to June 30, October 31 for the period of July 1 to September 30, and January 31 for the period of October 1 to December 31.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 30 the Cook County Environmental Control Ordinance, Article VI the Cook County Solid Waste and Recycling Ordinance, Division 1, Section 30-777, Definitions, of the Cook County Code, is hereby amended as Follows:
Sec. 30-777. Definitions.
As used in this section:
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Drop-off center means any recycling facility that accepts without charge or payment recyclable materials, including unattended stand-alone drop boxes, or single day residential recycling events.
Event facility means a permanent structure for holding public meetings or public events, including, but not limited to, baseball games, football games, hockey games, automobile races, or other musical, dramatic, artistic, social, or athletic events. "Event facility" includes a convention center. "Event facility" does not include a school stadium, a county fair, or a hotel.
Food scrap means garbage that is:
(a) Capable of being decomposed into compost by composting;
(b) Separated by the generator from other waste, including, but not limited to, garbage that is not capable of being decomposed into compost by composting; and
(c) Managed separately from other waste, including, but not limited to, garbage that is not capable of being decomposed into compost by composting.
Food scrap includes, but is not limited to, packaging, utensils, and food containers composed of readily biodegradable material in accordance with the ASTM D6400 standard required for use under Section 3.197 of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, as amended.
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Sanitary landfill or landfill means a facility permitted or required to be permitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the disposal of waste on land meeting the requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq., and regulations thereunder, and without creating nuisances or hazards to public health or safety, by confining the refuse to the smallest practical volume and covering it with a layer of earth at the conclusion of each day’s operation, or by such other methods and intervals as the Board may provide by regulation.
School means a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school and does not include colleges or universities.
Sheriff means the Sheriff of Cook County or the Sheriff’s agents.
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Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
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