Recycling Expert to present on 6/6/11 at 7 p.m. @ UU Church in Peoria

NATIONAL RECYCLING EXPERT TO SPEAK IN PEORIA
MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2011 7:00 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Peoria, 3000 W Richwoods Blvd., Peoria, IL  61615

“RECYCLING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT” by Neil Seldman of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Mr. Neil Seldman, a nationally recognized recycling expert and President of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (www.ilsr.org), is visiting Peoria to present “Recycling and Economic Development – Turning Waste Into Resources” on Monday, June 6, 2011 at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Peoria,  3000 W. Richwoods Blvd., Peoria, Illinois.  This event is free and open to the public.  Mr. Seldman is in Peoria at the invitation of Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste.

Mr. Seldman’s presentation will last approximately 45-minutes.  He will speak on the following topics: 

• What happens to recyclables after you throw them into your bin
• The current state of recycling markets
• Best Practices: Recycling as a source of economic development
• Case studies and success stories from Atlanta, Los Angeles, Edmonton, Bridgeport (CT), and Milford and Wilmington, Delaware
• How to create a local market for recyclables (types of industries that can be attracted)
• Next steps for Peoria, Illinois

Afterwards, Mr. Seldman will offer himself for a public question and answer session.  The entire event is expected to last 2 hours.

Mr. Seldman is President of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (www.ilsr.org) a Washington DC based consulting organization and a nationally recognized expert on recycling and waste reduction that has helped dozens of cities improve their waste diversion rates. 


The Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria encourages dialogue on this subject but does not take an official position.

About ILSR
The Institute’s mission is to provide innovative strategies, working models and timely information to support environmentally sound and equitable community development. To this end, ILSR works with citizens, activists, policy-makers and entrepreneurs to design systems, policies and enterprises that meet local or regional needs; to maximize human, material, natural and financial resources; and to ensure that the benefits of these systems and resources accrue to all local citizens.
Since 1974, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance has been working to enable communities with tools to increase economic effectiveness, reduce wastes, decrease environmental impacts and provide for local ownership of the infrastructure and resources essential for community well-being.
2010 annual report  http://www.ilsr.org/pubs/2010yearendreport.pdf“http://www.ilsr.org/pubs/2010yearendreport.pdf

About Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste (PFATW)
PFATW is an ever-growing group of mainstream citizens who live and work in Peoria County and are concerned about the health and safety of our families. Like other local grassroots organizations, the medical community, and the thousands of Peoria County citizens who voiced their strong concerns during the 2006 expansion hearings, we are gravely concerned about Peoria Disposal Company’s (PDC) continued operation of a hazardous waste landfill so close to our homes. We are compelled and unified by a common sense of concern. We seek to do what we see as our duty as concerned residents—to inform our neighbors and impact the public process. We are citizens, taxpayers, parents and grandparents and we seek to protect our health and the safety of our entire community.

 For questions on Mr. Seldman’s visit, please call Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste, (309) 339-9733
 www.pfatw.org.  You may also contact Cara Rosson  at carayogamama@gmail.com.