After years of work done by our organization and our coalition partners, the Tollway terminated the Rt. 53/120 extension project in July of 2019. Now we are focusing on protecting the corridor and connecting it to the Liberty Prairie Reserve and up to Volo Bog and Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge to create an urban greenway.
In 2008, in our first campaign, we, under the name, “Incinerator-Free Lake County”, led a successful effort to keep incinerators out or the county 5-yr. Solid Waste Plan. We were inexperienced but worked hard and were supported by many including our friends in the Sierra Club and many elected officials. To our delight, the County Board gave us a fair and open-minded hearing and agreed with us!
In addition to opposing the introduction of incinerators into Lake County, we promoted a positive alternative solution to dealing with our discards; We asked the County Board to redouble their efforts in Waste Diversion. As a result of that effort, we are on track to reach the goal and now lead the State of Illinois in waste diversion rates!
Barbara Klipp, Midwest Sustainability’s Executive Director, is a smart, strategic, and relentless advocate – exactly the person you want to have by your side when you fight for the good or reach for the almost impossible.