The Illinois Recycling Foundation (IRF) proudly announces the recipients of its 2025 Annual IRF Awards, honoring exceptional leadership in recycling, circularity, and waste reduction across the state. The awards were presented October 15 as part of the Illinois Circularity Conference presented by Recycle Coach — a gathering of more than 200 changemakers committed to accelerating Illinois’ shift away from disposal and toward circular solutions.
“Illinois has set ambitious goals for reducing waste and increasing recycling,” said Clair Ryan, IRF President. “Meeting them will take all of us — local governments, institutions, businesses, and residents — working together as true partners.”
This year’s awardees:
— Marta Keane, Helping Hands Textile Recycling, and the McHenry County College Sustainability Center — represent the very best in statewide innovation, collaboration, and service.
Steve Apotheker Recycler of the Year — Marta Keane, Will County
Marta Keane has spent 37 years building the systems and partnerships that now define recycling in Illinois. Her career spans:
- One of the nation’s largest HHW collection programs (Naperville)
- The Midwest’s first large-scale electronics recycling event (1996)
- Award-winning multifamily recycling programs and public education
- WillCountyGreen.com — a statewide model for material lookup tools
- Multiple Illinois Solid Waste Plan updates, shaping long-term policy
She has driven Illinois’ national leadership in product stewardship:
• Electronics EPR law — best in the nation
• Medication takeback access statewide
• Expanded paint stewardship solutions
• Battery EPR launching January 1, 2026
“Marta has transformed the landscape of sustainable materials management in Illinois,” Ryan said. “Her leadership has made circularity real for our residents and communities.”
Outstanding Private Sector Program — Helping Hands Textile Recycling
Accepted by: Gina Peshek
More than 11 million tons of textiles are trashed nationwide each year. Helping Hands Textile Recycling is directly changing that outcome across the South Suburbs and beyond. They were the first textile partner for Cook County’s CHaRM Center at South Suburban College — helping the region surpass 1.3 million pounds diverted since 2023.
“Helping Hands is the kind of partner every county hopes to have — responsive, innovative, and deeply committed to service,” said Ryan.
Outstanding Public Sector Program — McHenry County College Sustainability Center
Accepted by: Barb Day
The McHenry County College Sustainability Center has built a campus that practices circularity — with programs and services extending far beyond school walls, including:
- Repair events that extend product life and teach skills
- Organics + compost education woven into campus life
- Battery and hard-to-recycle drop-off open to the community
- Career-focused sustainability curriculum
- Publication of the annual Green Guide
“McHenry County College shows how sustainability grows when education and action work hand in hand,” said Ryan.
A Movement Takes Shape in East Peoria
The awards ceremony capped a landmark event: the joint Circularity Conference co-hosted by IRF, ILCSWMA & SWANA Land of Lincoln, addressing challenges such as battery fires, PFAS, EPR, and textile circularity.
“Illinois is closer to a circular economy because our brightest changemakers are building it together,” Ryan said.
