Environment and Sustainability

The Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability works to improve the quality of the environment for all residents of Cook County.

Mandates and Key Activities

• Enforce Cook County Environmental Control Ordinance
• Implement Illinois EPA cooperative agreements on pollution control, inspection
• Administer U.S. EPA, DOE and other grant agreements
• Permit and inspect industrial and commercial fuel-burning equipment, asbestos abatement, demolition, solid waste facilities, open burning and facilities that store hazardous chemicals for environmental compliance
• Investigate citizen complaints and ordinance violations
• Reduce waste in energy, materials and water
• Prepare solid waste plan for suburban Cook County
• Monitor air quality for the U.S. EPA

Announcements

Coal Tar Sealant Ban

Cook County’s recently passed Coal Tar Sealant Ban takes effect on September 10, 2024. Pursuant to Section 30-975 of the Cook County Code, no commercial entity shall sell at retail in Cook County coal tar sealant products for application and/or use on asphalt-paved surfaces in Cook County. Further, commercial entities may not apply and/or use a coal tar sealant product on an asphalt-paved surface in Cook County. Questions about the ordinance, or complaints regarding possible violations of the Coal Tar Sealant Ban, may be directed to the Department of Environment and Sustainability by emailing environment@cookcountyil.gov or calling 312-603-8200, option 5.

Certificate of Operation (COO)

Annual payment for a Certificate of Operation (COO) is required if your commercial or industrial facility operates any fuel-burning equipment, process equipment, storage tanks or air pollution control devices. All payments for your COO shall be submitted through the electronic permit processing portal. Further details can be found here.

Please contact certificateofoperations@cookcountyil.gov or call at 312-603-8200, option 3 if you have any questions.

RainReady Homes

What is the RainReady Homes Program?

The RainReady Homes Program is part of Cook County's broader RainReady initiative. It funds home improvements to help prevent basement sewer backups for Riverdale residents. The improvements include features that capture or redirect stormwater, like overhead sewers and green infrastructure.

Program Highlights:

• Goals: The initiative aims to reduce basement sewage backups, flood risk, improve public health, promote environmental sustainability and improve overall quality of life in participating communities.
• Eligibility: Funding is available to a limited number of homeowners in Riverdale who experience basement sewer backups and meet specific property criteria.
• Cost: Project management, home assessment and all eligible improvements including overhead sewers, rain gardens and rain barrels are provided at no cost to participating homeowners.
• Implementation: The program includes a full range of services from home assessments and design consultations to construction and maintenance of the installed features through 2026.

How to Get Involved: Interested Riverdale homeowners can apply by filling out the program’s interest form.

Or contact Ana Mikhalochkina at anastasia@greenprintpartners.com or 312-544-9773 for more information.

This program is supported, in whole or in part, by Assistance Listing Number (ALN) — formerly known as the CFDA — 21.027 awarded to Cook County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Cook County Center for Hard to Recycle Materials

This is a permanent recycling drop-off facility available to Cook County residents that helps divert millions of pounds of waste and other hard-to-recycle items from regional landfills and water systems. More information about materials accepted at the CHaRM Center can be found here.

Permits

You may apply for permits online – see the menu at right on this page. If you need help, email contact information can be found on each page.

Environmental Complaints

You may register environmental complaints for suburban and unincorporated Cook County by emailing environment@cookcountyil.gov or calling 312-603-8200, option 5.

Sustainability in Cook County

Have you seen Cook County’s sustainability webpage?
At Cook County we want to lead by example. At the site you’ll find information about County projects to lower our environmental footprint and our costs.