Mark Loughmiller, until recently the head of the community recycling center in Champaign, has been named the first recycling coordinator for Lake County.
Loughmiller also will be the first permanent employee of the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County.
He will be in charge of coordinating and expanding the recycling efforts in the county. Fifteen communities and two townships have recycling programs.
”This is a major step for the agency,” Robert Depke, chairman of the agency, said of Loughmiller`s appointment. ”Bringing Mark on board demonstrates the commitment of SWALCO to implement the recycling segment of the solid waste management plan.”
The agency is a consortium of 34 communities and the county government. It is charged with building and siting solid waste facilities that will handle Lake County`s needs into the next century.
Bill Barron, deputy Lake County administrator, said the waste plan calls for recycling 25 to 49 percent of the solid waste generated in the county. Recycling efforts will focus primarily on paper, aluminum, glass, steel cans and various plastics, Barron said.
Loughmiller will be paid $39,000 a year and will begin work Oct. 14.
Barron said Loughmiller is the first employee of the agency, because state law requires that the agency have such a coordinator.
”It is the only position that is mandated by state law for SWALCO,”
Barron said.
Depke said Loughmiller will give communities technical assistance in their recycling programs and advise them on using recycled products.
Loughmiller was selected from 82 candidates for the position. He has been chief executive of the not-for-profit recycling center at Champaign, which has an annual budget of $1.2 million and 35 employees. Last year, that center received a national award.
”Mark has considerable experience in the industry, and he brings a solid management background,” said Depke, who also is chairman of the Lake County Board. ”Having Mark on board is going to be a real asset to our member communities. We are going to keep Mark real busy.”
The agency projects it could spend more than $900 million in the next 20 years to dispose of solid waste through recycling, incineration and landfills. The agency will find sites and build the facilities but will have private industry run them.
The agency is conducting a national search for its first executive director, who will receive about $65,000 a year. That selection is expected to be made early next year.
”We are looking for someone with expertise in solid waste, with administrative ability and with a good sense of humor,” Barron said.
