Three weeks into a pilot recycling education program in select neighborhoods of Waukegan’s First and Second Wards, as well as a pair of Zion subdivisions, people are apparently getting the message with a 30-point improvement in Waukegan and a 25-point increase in Zion.

Frank Pettis, the owner of GreenLit Solutions, is running the Recycle Education and Outreach (REO) program for the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) focused on Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion.

Checking recycle bins for items that cannot be recycled, Pettis pointed to one on Helmholz Avenue. Three weeks ago, 90% of the materials were in plastic bags, and 50% to 60% of all items could not be recycled. He does not knock on doors, but the owner came outside to talk to him.

“She thought she was helping by putting eve

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